Ranking the 30 best NBA seasons from players over 35 years old
LeBron James. 3. player. 20. . SF. Los Angeles Lakers
The 30 best NBA seasons from players over 35 years old — 3. LeBron James. 2019-20 (35)
The question of who is the greatest player in the history of the NBA is an engrossing, entertaining, and perhaps unsolvable debate. This list is not the place to try and settle such a debate. What it can highlight, however, is that LeBron James looks like he will blow away Michael Jordan’s accomplishments at ages 36 and up. For the best age-35 season specifically, however, James falls two spots shy of Jordan.
That is not to take away anything from James’ accomplishments in the 2019-20 season, as he achieved excellence in the midst of chaos and sorrow. From the passing of Kobe Bryant to the pandemic to conversations about racial injustice, the struggle off-the-court makes LeBron James’ on-the-court success even more impressive.
In his 17th season in the league, James dropped 25.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and a league-leading 10.2 assists per game. The only other player to average double-digit assists at age 35 or older was Steve Nash. As a 6-9 point forward James orchestrated the Lakers’ offense en route to the best record in the Western Conference, 52 wins in 71 games.
In the NBA Bubble in Orlando, FL the Lakers, led by James, steamrolled through their first three opponents and overcame an injured Miami Heat team in the Finals. Over the course of 21 playoff games he put up 27.6 points, 10.8 rebounds and 8.8 assists. The Lakers were a +18 per 100 possessions with James on the court.
James finished second to Giannis Antetokounmpo in MVP voting, was an All-NBA first-team selection and ultimately won Finals MVP. For the ninth time in 10 years, he led his team to the NBA Finals, becoming the first player to win Finals MVP for three different franchises. He also provided leadership not just to his team but to an entire league as they mourned, wrestled and simply survived their way through 2020.
Even at 35, LeBron James made sure everyone knew he was still the best player, the face and the voice of the league.