Despite turning 37 years old in December, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is still among the best in the NBA.
There are legitimate debates about who is supreme in the league. Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and Kevin Durant of the Brooklyn Nets have the strongest cases to claim the top spot.
Antetokounmpo, who is coming off a dominant NBA playoff stretch that led to a championship, recently said James is still the best in the world.
In a new ranking of the top 15 wings in the NBA, CBS placed James at No. 2 behind Durant. Here’s why:
Is LeBron slipping? That’s a loaded question. He was right in the thick of the MVP race before Solomon Hill dived into his ankle. He also averaged his fewest minutes (33.4) of his career, his fewest assists (7.8) since 2016 and the fewest points (25) since his rookie year. The king remains the NBA’s smartest player, but eventually, Father Time is going to knock him off his throne physically. Russell Westbrook’s arrival was geared largely toward staving that moment off for a little while longer. James will likely play fewer minutes and take fewer shots this season. All that matters is whether or not he can still summon the brilliance that makes him arguably the greatest player ever when it counts most. If the 2020 postseason is any indication, he’s still got enough left in the tank to do just that.
James has had two of his last three seasons derailed by lower-body injuries, so it’s reasonable to question his health as he faces Father Time. If he can stay healthy, he should still put up good numbers across the board, even if they dip with Russell Westbrook and Anthony Davis primed to help out.
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