Los Angeles Lakers: LeBron James still not ready to give up the throne

He may be getting older, but LeBron James is showing there still shouldn’t really be any question as to who the best in the business is.

LeBron James has been in the NBA for 15 full seasons, and during each one of those campaigns, he’s wowed the world with his signature mix of incredible athleticism and even better IQ and unselfishness.

Heading into year 16 though, it kind of seemed like the beginning of the end for The King. He signed a four-year deal with the Los Angeles Lakers, only the roster wasn’t up to his usual championship standards. So we assumed he’d kind of take a year off until reinforcements arrived, leaving the golden crown of the best in the game up for the taking.

Kevin Durant has always been a looming threat with his ability to score from anywhere on the court coupled with his newfound defensive abilities. Meanwhile, the duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis have been putting up ridiculous stat lines to start the season, with the Greek Freak in particular looking to elevate his team to new heights under a new head coach.

For all the talk about year 16 and eight consecutive Finals appearances, LeBron is really giving Father Time a run for its money. Sunday night was the latest example following a 51-point performance on 61.3 percent shooting in a win over the Miami Heat. This came on the heels of a 44-point, 10-rebound, nine-assist gem he hung on the Portland Trail Blazers last Wednesday.

In his first run with the Lakers, it hasn’t been easy for the three-time Finals MVP. Not only has he had to make do with a group of players that fits about as well as a circle block in a triangle hole, but LeBron has had to find a balance between dominating the basketball and letting his younger, less developed teammates grow.

He hasn’t always made the right decisions, and it’s probably cost L.A. some victories. We’ve all seen James’ woes at the free throw line and his lack of effort on the defensive end, but that shouldn’t detract from how we know he plays once the postseason rolls around.

LeBron will be 34 by the end of December with more mileage than anybody in the league. Unlike Giannis and AD, he can’t expend 100 percent of his energy on a nightly basis, lest he decreases his chances of playing in June. This has become common practice for some time now, and yet whenever James dips just slightly below the all-time bar we’ve set for him, it’s time to find out who has next.

Funny though, because despite averaging a career-low 34.7 minutes a night, LeBron’s numbers of 28.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and 6.9 assists are actually right on par with his career averages.

So yeah, go enjoy watching Giannis win MVP and Stephen Curry bending space and time with his outside shot. LeBron will be off to the side putting up the boring near triple-doubles he’s been having since his second year in the league while helping the NBA’s preeminent franchise return to the playoffs for the first time since 2013.

Don’t get it confused, though, because it’s performances like these that should serve as a reminder King James still has a level he can reach which nobody else can even touch. And he can bust it out any time he wants.