LeBron James’ 10 best performances of the season

6. James takes it to the future of the NBA (02/25/20)

Given their similarities as two of the most athletically gifted athletes who have been covered long before the NBA, there was natural anticipation for the first duel between LeBron James and Zion Williamson.

Nobody was preparing to cast LeBron aside in favor of Zion, but it was hard not to see this matchup in the way we once watched an 18-year-old Kobe Bryant take on Michael Jordan, an unofficial passing of the torch from one face of the league to the presumed next.

Some already had their eyes towards that mesmerizing tomorrow, but not James. He ruthlessly attacked the New Orleans Pelicans to the tune of a season-high 40 points along with eight rebounds and six assists in a nine-point win.

LeBron might not have sought out Williamson on defense, but he sure did make the most of those opportunities when they arose, scoring nine points on 4-of-6 shooting in the sub-minute and a half the reigning No. 1 overall pick was matched up against him.

There will come a time when James no longer resides on the top of the NBA’s hierarchy and Zion will likely reign supreme.

With his highest-scoring performance of the season, however, LeBron James took on the task of making sure everyone knew the future, that future, was and still is a ways away.