LeBron James: “I’m not looking at my year as a disappointment that’s for damn sure. I was put into positions I never played in my career before, actually in my life. I’ve never been a 3rd option in my life.”
Respect for the self awareness. Obviously they ran into a buzzsaw and didn’t have Luka, but that series against the Rockets has gotta be one of the most impressive things a 40+ year old player has ever done.
I thought he played really well against the Thunder in game 1, and kind of ran out of gas for the rest of the series as the team demanded more from him. I never thought LeBron at this age would still be on the best players in the nba. In all honesty, I bet he looks back on this year with fondness that is only short of his championship years
Honestly, I don’t think it was as much a matter of him running out of gas as it was more of him ceeding the floor to AR. The rockets series he played a ton in the post and didn’t do as much of that versus OKC. Partly due to marchups but also to open up the lanes for AR. Crazy how good Bron still plays at this age.
You also don’t get to take possessions “off” against OKC. Rocket’s inability to hit shots meant there was a lot less rotation defense for the Lakers. On offense, LeBron just took his sweet time backing people up and setting guys like Kennard up.
Bron’s too smart.
He played playoff basketball with his son, wouldn’t be surprised if personally this was his favorite year of basketball ever
A Jaylen brown type way to look at the season, if you will
(I kid, mostly, but really that’s the same story we’re bashing JB for)
Its really not the same story…
Well that man is still in his prime and I think what he said was different from what he meant, but yeah lol. LeBron gets to be the wise old man now, he’s no longer the best athlete in the world
Saying the season is not a disappointment is very different than it being your “favorite’ season”
I think most people can understand being at peace at the end of a season when you gave everything you could but it just wasn’t enough against a better team.
I also don’t understand why a season when you won a title wouldn’t be your favorite.
Not even fucking close 😂😂😂
What are even the other options for impressive things by 40+ year old players? Kareem has the title, but he averaged 14⁄5.5 in that playoff run.
He had prime Magic and Worthy. LeBron upsetting the Rockets is the greatest accomplishment by a 40 year old athlete since Tom Brady’s Super Bowl title with the Buccaneers
Phil winning a major at 50 kinda crazy
I want to figure out a way to downplay this because golf is less of a pure athletic endeavor and (mostly) because Phil is such a douche, but it really is a fucking impressive accomplishment.
I’m always very impressed seeing old farts twist their body during a round of golf
Would argue it’s considerably more impressive.
Playing in the NBA is more reliant on athleticism/physical ability than playing as a pocket passer QB in the NFL, and LeBron’s had a longer career with far more wear and tear. There are more natural advantages as a player in the NBA if you’re younger/more athletic.
I think the only comparable achievement in Big 4 sports is Jerry Rice catching 92 balls at age 40 and being the best receiver on a team that made it to the SB. Which is just preposterous when you realize most receivers start to decline around age 30.
I don’t think being an NBA athlete compares to the wear and tear that’s on an NFL athlete.
I specified pocket passer QB in the NFL relative to an NBA player, not all NFL players.
Brady is an objectively poor “athlete” by NFL standards; he’s slow, he’s not particularly strong. One of the reasons he was infamously drafted so late was because of his poor physical profile. The implication is that whatever he brought to the table as a player (which was a lot!) was going to be impacted less by aging.
He also happened to play a position that takes less physical abuse play-to-play by design, and - especially in the back half of his career - was further protected by rule changes that dialed down the level of abuse/physical wear and tear even further.
All that being said, my point here isn’t really to take away from what Brady did as much as it is to elevate what LeBron did, which to me just doesn’t seem like it should be physically possible. It’s straight-up superhuman shit.
I mean even if they take fewer hits than other players, quarterbacks are also in the weird position of being relatively stationary as other players bear down on them. Brady had his knee shredded, Lebron hasn’t ever had to deal with that.
Maybe if they had KD lol
I just remember 40 year old Karl Malone being able defend Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett well enough in 2004 to win those series
LeBron exists in his own universe. The list of impressive things a 40 year old has done (essentially) boils down to being on a championship team or being LeBron.
Kareem at 40 was averaging like 15 and 5 on that Championship team - impressive for 40, obviously, but nowhere near what LeBron is doing.
“One of?”
Yeah maybe one of one. LBJ is the most impressive 40+ year old player in the history of basketball and it’s not even close.
Historically, the only genuine contributor at 40+ was Kareem, and LeBron’s play this playoffs puts him ahead by a Grand Canyon sized chasm
LeBron has never lacked the ‘self-awareness’ to credit his own performance and downplay his failures
Reminded me of Tom Brady. After the 28-3 game, I stopped hating and appreciated it. Because it would likely never happen again. Would be sick to see LeBron get another ring….just not with LA! Come to the D!
Le3rdOption
LeTroisième
[deleted]
LeTrireme
LeBronze…again
“I can leave the floor saying, ‘Shit, even though I hate losing obviously, I was locked in on what we needed to do. … I tried to make sure our guys were locked in on what we needed to do throughout the postseason, throughout 10 games. “And obviously we fell a little short, but I’m not looking at my year as a disappointment, that’s for damn sure.” “The love of the game is always there. I don’t think it ever goes away. … But the process to me has always been so much more important. Because if I fell out of love with the process, then I’d probably fall out of love with the game”
“I can leave the floor saying, ‘Shit, even though I hate losing obviously, I was locked in on what we needed to do. … I tried to make sure our guys were locked in on what we needed to do throughout the postseason, throughout 10 games.
“And obviously we fell a little short, but I’m not looking at my year as a disappointment, that’s for damn sure.”
“The love of the game is always there. I don’t think it ever goes away. … But the process to me has always been so much more important. Because if I fell out of love with the process, then I’d probably fall out of love with the game”
People really thought LeBron signed with LA in 2018 to LeCoast his way to retirement. People really thought LeBron was a toxic teammate who would be unwilling to defer to Luka and AR lmao
media pushed that narrative. Lebron haters pushed that narrative. Most levelheaded people knew he still wanted to win
That last paragraph I think is what Brady said when he retired. It’s not just show up in October and play through May/June. The training is all year long. I think it was Brady who said he woke up one morning in the off-season and just didn’t want to train that day and knew then that he was done.
The last line is such a great quote. His commitment to the process is so admirable. One more year Bron 🙏
LeBron longevity: it’s all side quests now … I respect the honesty
LeBrongevity
Well played
I’m a little sad that these playoffs are likely the last time we’ll see a LeBron led offense.
Whether he stays or goes he’s not going to be the focal point
Heck the Rockets series was super impressive for him regardless of how else the playoffs went.
Sucks about OKC but that was going to be tough no matter who was available. Hope he stays.
I hope he plays another season.
I’ll definitely miss watching him play.
He is 100% playing another season.
yall cant say nothing about Bron now. Yall wanted him to stand to the side cus Lukas on the team and guess what he gets hurt and Bron stays healthy again as the older player in the league lol. Greatest ability is availability
Shai said it himself, Bron was priority number 1 on the scouting report this series
Yet, he goes out and plays 35+ minutes and gives you 23/7/7 on 50/36/76 shooting against a team that is shaping up to be historically great. All this at 41 is so fucking ridiculous it’s beyond comprehension really
Worry less about legacy and all that noise, and just appreciate what’s in front of you sometimes.
He looks annoyed he was asked this, he really takes pride he downsized his usage as a 3rd option
Dude is in the playoffs playing 36-40 minutes and feeling rather fresh and managed a carry-job against a pretty decent Houston team. He definitely knows he can play a few more years like this.
He absolutely can, and on a contender depending on his salary
if you can still walk without pain after your NBA career, thats a win
stay healthy - thats what matters
But was he the third guy?
Yes. Watching post all star break when the Lakers started stringing together significant win streaks he clearly played a lot off the ball and Reaves and Luka were dominating the ball handling responsibilities. He would spot up and relocate on drives. Wait for opportunities to 45 cut and backdoor cut. He also ran out ahead of the play a lot for hit ahead passes. He was playing like a role player who was just way overqualified. The only other time I’ve seen LeBron like that is occasionally in the Olympics.
At times yeah.
2011 finals he was 3rd option behind wade and bosh
4th option behind Juwan Howard
The disrespect to Mario Chalmers
I don’t see LeBron with any NCAA championships.
Never say never. They said the same thing when we got Luka but he has been our best player in the playoffs twice since then.
Lmao. We dont talk about 2011
Bro exceeded expectations once again. LeGoat James🐐
Bounced the Rockets dolo SALUTE
Greatest all around player and in terms of longevity. Nobody has ever been asked to do what LeBron did at this age
We know.
Now he’s gonna try to add a 6MOTY to his resume
After that he’ll go for MIP.
Oh he bout to join the Hornets and live out his farewell tour playing as the 4th option behind King Kon, LaMelo, and Brandon. LFG!
Come to okc for vet min king, free rings
He’s not KD plus no roster spot for Bronny
Bronny can be an assistant coach
2010 he took he talents to south beach…did you forget ?
Remind me of the heats record the year before Lebron and the warriors record the year before KD?
That’s KD music, not Bron
LeHumble
Just stop lebron
You still aren’t Austin reaves ain’t get better your the number two still sometime number one
Its’ never going to work with Luka, Lebron, Reaves. One of them has to go.
I would love to watch him play for more seasons, but I know the time will eventually come ☹️
What did I miss about Brown claiming moral victory? All I saw was the whining 😭
He said that was his favorite season as a pro.
Of course its a disappointment when you get swept. I said it for him.
Yeah but it’s against the best team in the league and the lakers were missing thier best player… he pushed the thunder as much as he could
Gotta assume it’s also a little easier to swallow when A) you’re 41 years old; B) your own son is on your team; C) you’ve already won 4 rings; and D) you’ve made over $500 million just in NBA contracts.
Just a hunch.
He had.a.good gm 1. But it was Rui after that. The dude was clutch fir you guys.
For a team that was supposed to get swept in the first round, I think they did alright.
just go to a better team bro you wasted your time and talent with the fakers!
I don’t want to be a dick but after Luka went out, he sure seemed like the second option. We talking regular season Reaves? This was still Bron’s team.
AR came back, JJ decided it was a showcase AR as primary ballhandler.
https://www.nba.com/stats/players/touches?PORound=2&TeamID=1610612747&dir=D&sort=TOUCHES
love the stats
LeBron earned so much respect this year. I always felt MJ had the crown but I think LeBron has surpassed him. Absolutely incredible to be doing it for this long and at this level. We will probably never see anyone like this again.
For exactly what ? What has he done this year that’s so special ? He gets paid 50 Milli.
I don’t factor in his salary. He stepped up when he was needed. You probably win a game vs OKC if you’re full strength.
Is he the “goat” or not? He “stepped up” lmao 🤣
When exactly did he stepped up ? Maybe we didn’t watched the same games but we lost 4-0. no game where he went ballistic or scored 30+, so when exactly was that he stepped up. Or is stepping up for you like suiting up ?
You lakers fans are so spoiled and miserable at the same time. LeBron fucking James carries your squad to a playoff series win at age 41 and you still find ways to cry about it
Facts. I wish they could go through 2 decades of no playoff wins to know how much it sucks.
23 pts avg in playoffs is stepping up, especially at 41.
Not to forget at a pricetag of 50 Milli…for 23 pts avg in playoffs …🤣🤣🤣🤣
3rd option on a max contract. Good luck next year Luka! Lmao
He’s the main reason why they won first round without Luka. That already makes the max contract worth it. I dont think he’ll get max contract next year
Insane cope lmao
Hey guys the thunder won
We don’t have to talk about the Lakers or LeBron anymore
True. Let’s talk about whistles some more
Oh sweet summer child
Dude talks without saying anything.
I guess it would seem that way to those who don’t care enough to listen.
what are you talking about
We’re all worse off when billionaires get in front of a microphone
I was put into positions I never played in my career before, actually in my life. I’ve never been a 3rd option in my life.”
more excuses from the self proclaimed goat
If you expect a 41 year old who’s played the most games ever and the most minutes to somehow beat the best team in the league without his best player there and AR playing through injury, idk what to tell you man. 😂
This constant reminder that he’s 41 needs to stop. This is a grown man. Let’s stop pitying him like a 7 year old where we cheer when he scores a basket and when he fails, we say it’s okay, you’re only 7 years old. He’s a grown man, he’s a professional with a high salary, competing. He’s a competitor. Chin up, show some pride. He doesn’t need pity.
That’s the definition of pity. This isn’t a criticism of why a 41 year can’t play like a 25 year old fool. Reported asked him to his assessment of this season. Bron said they fell short but he’s never been the 3rd option. He wasn’t, he wasn’t in this series. Stop the pity train.
Ok buddy
Moving LeGoalPosts as always.
Didn’t this sociopath declare he “defeated” Father Time like the day before the sweep began?
You have the reading comprehension skills of a rock