This May Be Only the Beginning of LeBron’s Golden Years https://t.co/ApQkT8k5Ft
— LakerTom (@LakerTom) October 12, 2020
LeBron James versus Michael Jordan will be debated ad nauseam in the weeks (and years) to come. What people don’t mention enough in that debate is the simple fact that LeBron is still writing his legacy. We’re comparing one player whose career is over to one who just led the Los Angeles Lakers to a championship at 35 years old, in Year 17 in the NBA. There’s no end in sight for LeBron. He remains the best player in the league and he’s equipped to lead the Lakers with his playmaking even as he ages. Assuming good health, there are more individual accolades in his future, more leaderboards to climb, and possibly more rings, because the Lakers could get even better.
The Lakers proved that size still matters. Which means size will be necessary to get through LeBron and his partner in chasing titles, Anthony Davis. AD is a nightmare opponent in the modern game. Most bigs, even good ones like Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid, show certain flaws in certain playoff series, whether it’s an inability to defend the perimeter or play a variety of defensive styles.
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The Lakers can add players to retool, too. They had immense success this season with either JaVale McGee or Dwight Howard sharing the front court with Davis. McGee and Howard deserve credit for their defensive energy, rebounding, screening, and finishing. But let’s be honest: The Lakers can do better. Neither of them can reliably shoot jumpers, creating spacing issues, and they both got shredded defensively deeper into the playoffs. Rob Pelinka and the Lakers front office also saw Butler get to the paint at will when the Heat went to shooters like Kelly Olynyk or Meyers Leonard at the 5.
The throwback, bruising center is nearing extinction, but that’s because the position has evolved to require a different skill set. Shooting has taken on a greater importance. Instead of McGee or Howard at center, imagine, say, Marc Gasol, Serge Ibaka, or Aron Baynes. They bring comparable or better defensive ability, and far superior offense as shooters and passers. Some of them could end up being too expensive, but the Lakers will likely have the non-taxpayer midlevel exception to use to chase free agents.
Props to Rafael Barlowe for his observation early in these playoffs that LeBron is going to play until he’s forty or even beyond. This fabulous article by Kevin O’Connor follows the same storyline and talks about what LeBron’s longevity is going to mean for the Lakers as a franchise.
I said many times during this season and the playoffs that this was the most imporant championship in LeBron’s and AD’s careers and the Lakers’ history. It restores LeBron to the GOAT argument, catapults AD to the status as next Best Player on the Planet, and triggers the Lakers next dynasty.
Let’s not get too old, need a young star to go with AD.