Inching towards the top ten of our ongoing top 25 player rankings, we arrive at LeBron James – a true basketball legend who has had an absurd reign of dominance over the past 20 years. James’ remarkable longevity combined with an elite skill set and physical tools has allowed him to remain great for this long.
Top 25 NBA Players 2023-24: No. 11 LeBron James
LeBron James: A Generational Star
The term “once-in-a-generation player” is one of the most overused terms in sports. However, once in a generation doesn’t cover James’ incredible talent and career. He is undoubtedly a top-three player and has a strong case as the greatest player of all time. His speed, strength, athleticism, elite creation, playmaking, and finishing give him one of the most unique yet complete skill sets the game has ever seen. At the same time, his sustained success and incredible longevity into his 21st season make him even more special. Additionally, James has an incredible resume, including four championships, four MVPs, and 19 All-NBA selections. As he enters the twilight years of his career, don’t take him for granted and appreciate his greatness.
Season Recap
The Los Angeles Lakers’ season got off to a rocky start. They were 13th in the conference at the trade deadline, and their playoff chances looked bleak. However, at the deadline, the Lakers revamped their core around James and captured the seventh seed as a result. Los Angeles even put together an impressive regular run without James due to a foot injury. The Lakers’ defense, which ranked first post trade deadline, was the main reason for their success. Ultimately, the Lakers would impressively make the Conference Finals, beating the Memphis Grizzlies and Golden State Warriors in the process.
Nevertheless, James continued his incredible production throughout the season, averaging just under 30 points a game. On February 7th against the Oklahoma City Thunder, James was 36 points away from breaking Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s near 40-year-old scoring record. He erupted for 38 points, breaking the record in the late third quarter with a fadeaway jump shot over Kenrich Williams. James now holds one of the most difficult records to break and is embedded in an incredibly important part of history.
Season Outlook
The Lakers doubled down on their roster this offseason, re-signing Austin Reaves, D’Angelo Russell and Rui Hachiumura. Additionally, they signed Gabe Vincent, Christian Wood, Taurean Prince, and Cam Reddish and drafted Jalen Hood-Schifino at pick 17. These players all fit perfectly next to James and Anthony Davis. This gives the Lakers an ideal combination of shooting and defense around their stars.
As a result, the team is poised to compete for a title. From James’ perspective, having this support and talent next to him is a huge benefit, especially as he ages. He has had sustained greatness for 20 years, but at some point, Father Time will have to catch up with him. It’s unclear if we’ll see the first significant decline from him at 38 (going on 39 this year). However, having a support system around him to lessen the load is necessary to build a contender around James at this stage in his career.
The Last Word
At face value, the 11 spot may seem low for James. While he’s still great, it’s important to note that his play has still declined. For years, his defense and defensive effort have declined. During the past few years, James’ finishing ability has taken a step back, and he now settles for more inefficient threes. Combined with his age, this has hurt his overall offensive effectiveness. Regardless, James is still one of the league’s best players and a basketball legend. He is a basketball anomaly; we’ve never seen anything like him and never will again.
