It should not be lost on anyone that gets the chance to watch the Los Angeles Lakers that they are witnessing greatness.
No, this is not a Locked on JJ Redick newsletter. It is, however, an acknowledgment of how special LeBron James is. And how lucky these Memphis Grizzlies are to compete against him.
While Memphis was able to knock off LeBron’s Lakers (without Anthony Davis) on Wednesday night, it wasn’t for a lack of trying from James. He posted an absurdly amazing 39 points on 24 shots, with 7 rebounds and 6 assists, in 35 minutes of play.
The man scored a point for every year old he is. 39 points. 39 years old.
“King” James is doing things at his advanced basketball age that he should not be able to do. The amount of time he invests in his body (and the money, too) to be able to do what he’s doing is tremendous. He is an underrated competitor. But even without his currently stunning state, the body of his career is of course worthy of even more praise.
He is the greatest of all time. Yes, better than Michael Jordan. The Grizzlies would be wise to study and emulate as best they can.
No, they can’t take his genetics from him. But so much of what LeBron has been able to do as a player, and as an overall ambassador for the game of basketball, can be a starting point for others to build on. In the social media era, he is the rare example of someone who hasn’t been lost in the shuffle online at some point. His aura, his brand, whatever you want to describe it as, is not impeccable - but it is darn impressive.
It’s not an accident. It’s part of a discipline that extends the physical. It’s mental toughness personified, a mental edge, It shines in the development of his public persona, but also in the way his game has evolved as he has aged. He made six threes against the Memphis Grizzlies - something that 10 or so years ago LeBron wouldn’t have needed to do (or maybe wouldn’t have even tried to do).
That development, that awareness of what value his name means now and has meant for a while...that is a level of wisdom not many achieve. Especially before age 40. To be the first true icon of the 21st century in sports that didn’t just live up to the hype, but exceeded it?
You’d be a fool to not look at that and want it, and more, for yourself.
Ja Morant has all the makings of the next face of the league. Multiple Grizzlies players have talent and skills that need to be added to in terms of overall tools available to them. And given the injury report of Memphis, a page out of the LeBron training playbook should be read a time or two.
Memphis won. They’re 5-4. But LeBron James was the best player on the court. At 39 years old.
We really are all witnesses. Hopefully the Grizzlies took notes on what they saw.
