The LeBron James All-NBA (2nd) and Luka Doncic - 24-25 Thread

[rk2023]

LeBron since turning 40:

• 28.6/8.8/9 per 75
• 63.8% TS
• 80.7 Rim FG% (26.7 Freq.)
• 47.2 Short MR FG% (27.3 Freq.)
• 43.8 Long MR FG% (13.8 Freq.)
• 44 3P% (32.2 Freq.)
• 4.5 on-court net
(6.5 with Reaves, 14.0 with Do, 11.2 with Hayes, 6.8 with Luka)

[f4p]

LeBron since turning 40:

• 28.6/8.8/9 per 75
• 63.8% TS
• 80.7 Rim FG% (26.7 Freq.)
• 47.2 Short MR FG% (27.3 Freq.)
• 43.8 Long MR FG% (13.8 Freq.)
• 44 3P% (32.2 Freq.)
• 4.5 on-court net
(6.5 with Reaves, 14.0 with Do, 11.2 with Hayes, 6.8 with Luka)

i realize injuries happen to all old players and that's part of their decline, but it really feels like if lebron could avoid injuries that he could just play forever. like he's not what he used to be, but how long would it take a healthy lebron to fall off to a bench player? 5 more years? 7?

[Joao Saraiva]

I'm starting to believe LA might make some noise in the post season. And people actually were saying in the GB that Reddick wasn't better than Ham...

He's doing a great work. Would be wonderful to see Bron and Luka (two players I like a lot) succeed together. I'm not a fan of LA and it annoys me this type of stuff only happens for them but it is what it is.

[AEnigma]

LeBron since turning 40:

• 28.6/8.8/9 per 75
• 63.8% TS
• 80.7 Rim FG% (26.7 Freq.)
• 47.2 Short MR FG% (27.3 Freq.)
• 43.8 Long MR FG% (13.8 Freq.)
• 44 3P% (32.2 Freq.)
• 4.5 on-court net
(6.5 with Reaves, 14.0 with Do, 11.2 with Hayes, 6.8 with Luka)

i realize injuries happen to all old players and that's part of their decline, but it really feels like if lebron could avoid injuries that he could just play forever. like he's not what he used to be, but how long would it take a healthy lebron to fall off to a bench player? 5 more years? 7?

His endurance and ability to consistently play committed defence will continue to fade, but with this recent improvement as a shooter, I agree I have a tough time envisioning how long it would take him to fall to even the level of Julius Randle, let alone to an outright non-starter.

Reminiscent of Gordie Howe, who was a useful NHL player at age 51-52, and (perhaps not quite impressive as) Tom Brady, who imo should have won MVP at age 44, was still a top ten quarterback at 45, and probably would be a legitimate improvement as the starting quarterback for roughly a quarter of the league going into what would be his hypothetical age 48 season.

[Special_Puppy]

LeBron since turning 40:

• 28.6/8.8/9 per 75
• 63.8% TS
• 80.7 Rim FG% (26.7 Freq.)
• 47.2 Short MR FG% (27.3 Freq.)
• 43.8 Long MR FG% (13.8 Freq.)
• 44 3P% (32.2 Freq.)
• 4.5 on-court net
(6.5 with Reaves, 14.0 with Do, 11.2 with Hayes, 6.8 with Luka)

i realize injuries happen to all old players and that's part of their decline, but it really feels like if lebron could avoid injuries that he could just play forever. like he's not what he used to be, but how long would it take a healthy lebron to fall off to a bench player? 5 more years? 7?

Is it blasphemous for me to say ~3 years?

[AEnigma]

LeBron since turning 40:

• 28.6/8.8/9 per 75
• 63.8% TS
• 80.7 Rim FG% (26.7 Freq.)
• 47.2 Short MR FG% (27.3 Freq.)
• 43.8 Long MR FG% (13.8 Freq.)
• 44 3P% (32.2 Freq.)
• 4.5 on-court net
(6.5 with Reaves, 14.0 with Do, 11.2 with Hayes, 6.8 with Luka)

i realize injuries happen to all old players and that's part of their decline, but it really feels like if lebron could avoid injuries that he could just play forever. like he's not what he used to be, but how long would it take a healthy lebron to fall off to a bench player? 5 more years? 7?

Is it blasphemous for me to say ~3 years?

Not totally blasphemous. DARKO currently projects his career to last another three years (whatever that means), and you could also use Duncan going from 2013 to 2016 and Kareem going from 1986 to 1989 as your points of comparison. I doubt he will give us the opportunity to see though, because as I do not picture him hanging around if he is no longer a top fifty player.

[trickshot]

Tonight should be interesting. Kawhi and Simmons are as good a duo as any on paper to throw at Lebron/Luka...so yeah knowing Luka 40pt game incoming.

[Ainosterhaspie]

LeBron since turning 40:

• 28.6/8.8/9 per 75
• 63.8% TS
• 80.7 Rim FG% (26.7 Freq.)
• 47.2 Short MR FG% (27.3 Freq.)
• 43.8 Long MR FG% (13.8 Freq.)
• 44 3P% (32.2 Freq.)
• 4.5 on-court net
(6.5 with Reaves, 14.0 with Do, 11.2 with Hayes, 6.8 with Luka)

i realize injuries happen to all old players and that's part of their decline, but it really feels like if lebron could avoid injuries that he could just play forever. like he's not what he used to be, but how long would it take a healthy lebron to fall off to a bench player? 5 more years? 7?

His endurance and ability to consistently play committed defence will continue to fade, but with this recent improvement as a shooter, I agree I have a tough time envisioning how long it would take him to fall to even the level of Julius Randle, let alone to an outright non-starter.

Reminiscent of Gordie Howe, who was a useful NHL player at age 51-52, and (perhaps not quite impressive as) Tom Brady, who imo should have won MVP at age 44, was still a top ten quarterback at 45, and probably would be a legitimate improvement as the starting quarterback for roughly a quarter of the league going into what would be his hypothetical age 48 season.

I'm not with you on the Tom Brady comp. Way more impressive to be able to play both sides still at 40 than to QB, play just play one side of the ball at the least physically demanding position outside of special teams.

Brady is insanely impressive and groundbreaking in his own right though. Just seems so different in what is physically demanded that I have a hard time looking at the two in any comparable way.

[Ainosterhaspie]

Barring injury, LeBron (40) seems to be on track for 2nd team all NBA. Oldest second team or better guys in the past...

Kareem (38) 1st team.
Duncan (36) 1st team.
Malone (36) 2nd team.
Wilt (35) 2nd team.
Durant (35) 2nd team.

[AmIWrongDude]

Barring injury, LeBron (40) seems to be on track for 2nd team all NBA. Oldest second team or better guys in the past...

Kareem (38) 1st team.
Duncan (36) 1st team.
Malone (36) 2nd team.
Wilt (35) 2nd team.
Durant (35) 2nd team.

He absolutely deserved 2nd team last year too. Kawhi over him made no sense whatsoever.

[thebigbird]

The Mavs weren’t wrong… Luka still looks so fat. Dude needs to get it together.

[therealbig3]

lol LeBron still doesn't take those long distance heaves to protect that FG%.

That's like the only pet peeve I have about his game throughout his career.

[nzahir]

Lebrons longevity is crazy

Sad that Rui may be out for a bit longer than initally though. Could be some weeks

And now AR.....sigh

We arent a very deep team to have bodies dropping like that

If Len isnt going to play any role, I would drop him too and get someone else

[IG2]

Luka's shot still MIA

[TheGOATRises007]

Luka's inability to make a 3 atm is killing his offense and he's pressing on offense

[Fadeaway_J]

Luka's decision-making has been bad. Too many instances of getting caught in the air and throwing a speculative pass that gets deflected or stolen.

[rk2023]

Related to the game: I can’t stand watching this older version of Harden player. Just disgusting offensive process, don’t care what Isolation PPP tells me

[TroubleS0me]

Read on Twitter

[xb3at band1tx]

Feels like JJ has been able to get Luka to be servicable on defense so far

great stuff

[Fadeaway_J]

Related to the game: I can’t stand watching this older version of Harden player. Just disgusting offensive process, don’t care what Isolation PPP tells me

I may be missing something but I struggle to understand how he was an All-Star this season (especially over Zubac on his own team).