LeBron will be 30 next year. How will he handle his decline?

[Bodhi]

All athletes peak in their mid 20s. No non-center has improved after turning 28


How do you think he will handle his declining abilities over the next 2 years?

[AirTupac]

He'll be fine. Just like Wade.




lol

[rip2]

He'll join better teams.

[LAZERUSS]

You can sure see the physical decline now...

[livingby3's]

All athletes peak in their mid 20s. No non-center has improved after turning 28


How do you think he will handle his declining abilities over the next 2 years?

Kinda off topic. But Steve Nash ?

[Zyzz]

All athletes peak in their mid 20s. No non-center has improved after turning 28


How do you think he will handle his declining abilities over the next 2 years?

Ring-chasing

More flopping

[moe94]

You can sure see the physical decline now...

Hope this is a joke because he's been head at rim level all year on his dunks.

[Lebron23]

He will be alright.

[Cold soul]

You can already see the decline athletically from Lebron but he will continue to be a great player.

[Bodhi]

Kinda off topic. But Steve Nash ?
Was that an improvement or just a different role?

You could also say that Dirk peaked in 2011 or KG peaked in 2008, but those were probably just different roles

[Genaro]

Was that an improvement or just a different role?

You could also say that Dirk peaked in 2011 or KG peaked in 2008, but those were probably just different roles
Disagree about KG, he peaked in 2004 IMHO

[navy]

You can sure see the physical decline now...
No. You can see it from his Cleveland tapes maybe.

[Lebron23]

karl malone won his first MVP Award at age 34, and his 2nd MVP at age 36. LeBron and Malone has the same body type, but Lebron's game is more exciting.

[Lebron23]

http://thehoopdoctors.com/online2/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/lebronkarl1.jpg

[Cold soul]

Disagree about KG, he peaked in 2004 IMHO

KG peak gets mad underrated here.

[moe94]

Was that an improvement or just a different role?

You could also say that Dirk peaked in 2011 or KG peaked in 2008, but those were probably just different roles

:roll:

Literally no argument outside winning a ring.

[Trollsmasher]

This season the dude easily looks the best athletically since leaving Cleveland.

I expected no decline at all in another 3 years.

[Lebron23]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0GL8yxOmCg

LeBron James SICK One-Handed Alley-Oop Slam ! |

[Leftimage]

All athletes peak in their mid 20s. No non-center has improved after turning 28


How do you think he will handle his declining abilities over the next 2 years?

Ever heard of a fella called second-threepeat Jordan? It'll be something along those lines.

[moe94]

Ever heard of a fella called second-threepeat Jordan? It'll be something along those lines.

Yep, LeBron has a wonderful midrange game, amazing post moves and unmatched basketball IQ to fall back on so he will age as gracefully as possible.

[Lebron23]

I love to see Lebron play with or against Lebron James Jr. I think Lebron will retire in his late 30's or early 40's. He also wants to break Kareem's NBA scoring record.

[rip2]

Yep, LeBron has a wonderful midrange game, amazing post moves and unmatched basketball IQ to fall back on so he will age as gracefully as possible.:rolleyes:
This has got to be the most sarcastic post I've seen on ISH.. :roll:
I'm gonna put a smiley there to make it perfect

[Lebron23]

He's more athletic this year compared to the 2011-2013 NBA Season. He's still averaging 26.3 ppg on 58 FG%.

[Boarder Patrol]

Expect Stans to say, at age 35, that he has not declined but has just descended deeper into coasting every year.

[TiagoSimoes]

Expect Stans to say, at age 35, that he has not declined but has just descended deeper into coasting every year.

:roll:

[Milbuck]

He'll be fine. I think it'd be sick if he made a full transition to PG though. I think he could put up Magic-like numbers if he went for it. Something like 20/10.

[Smook A.]

No way LeBron declines next year.

[Lebron23]

Expect Stans to say, at age 35, that he has not declined but has just descended deeper into coasting every year.


At age 35 Lebron would double or triple Kobe's Finals MVP. They both have the same numbers of Finals MVP despite Kobe being a lot older than Lebron.

[moe94]

He's more athletic this year compared to the 2011-2013 NBA Season. He's still averaging 26.3 ppg on 58 FG%.

It's hilarious that a player can do this and be considered to be having a down year. :biggums:

[Lebron23]

It's hilarious that a player can do this and be considered to be having a down year. :biggums:


FYI when Kobe and the Lakers won back to back NBA titles in 2009 and 2010. He didn't average over 27 ppg in the regular season. Sometimes putting up good numbers on a stack team really hurts the team chemistry.

Kobe 2009 - 26.8 ppg on 46.7 FG%
Kobe 2010 - 27.0 ppg on 45.6 FG%

I think Lebron will likely finish the season averaging 26.8 or 27 ppg on 58 FG%

[K.Koscik]

It's not like this Lebron is still climbing over people for lack of a better strategy like his early days in Ohio. Granted, he is still a ridiculous athlete when he calls on it, but shot selection, his ability to recognize weaknesses in defenses (so holes to attack the rim), and ambidextrosity are all components of his attacking ability.

Beyond that, his shooting has undeniably improved, but he still has cut a lot of jumpshots out of his diet in his recent quest for efficiency so if I had to guess what Lebron's game will look like as it ages:

He would be around the same weight, optimally i could see him add about 10-15 pounds as he slows down and learns to really bang big in the post. However if the wear and tear is too much, it wouldn't be a surprise to see him shed a little weight to compensate. Regardless, Lebron will become one of the strongest guys in the NBA as he aquires that "old man strength", one of the few benefits of age on an athlete.

Lebron is and always will be a facilitator first, and I could see him maintain that role in the future as a point forward type, but I also could see Lebron James changing his game from essentially a PG/SF combo to a SF/PF player as he teams with a younger star. As a back to the basket player, Lebron will never be special. But if he were to really develop his ability to face up and score from 15 ft and in, he could be an absolute animal. And really, it makes sense for a 6'8" 265-280lb forward with tremendous passing ability and a major strength advantage over most opponents to transition his game close to the basket, where finishing ability and strength become more important than quickness, vertical, or whatever else may be declining.

[bizil]

I feel a truly productive and long prime has three phases which are prime, peak, and backend prime. Bron right now is in his peak years. But even once his peak years are over, it DOESN'T really mean his prime years are necessarily over. Now some guys don't get to enjoy those kind of phases due to injury like Penny, Hill, T-Mac, and to an extent even Magic and Bird. Those guys all had injuries or circumstances that didn't let them enjoy all of those phases. So let's settle down about this Bron about to be 30 shit. Many of the great ones in the sport were the best or amongst the best deep into their mid 30's.

[TheMilkyBarKid]

He'll be fine. I think it'd be sick if he made a full transition to PG though. I think he could put up Magic-like numbers if he went for it. Something like 20/10.
I don't usually agree with your posts but I'm in the same boat here. I mean not right now but in a few years, where he'd be a #2 scoring option on a contender

[ImKobe]

FYI when Kobe and the Lakers won back to back NBA titles in 2009 and 2010. He didn't average over 27 ppg in the regular season. Sometimes putting up good numbers on a stack team really hurts the team chemistry.

Kobe 2009 - 26.8 ppg on 46.7 FG%
Kobe 2010 - 27.0 ppg on 45.6 FG%

I think Lebron will likely finish the season averaging 26.8 or 27 ppg on 58 FG%

2009 WCF - 34 ppg 5.8 rpg 5.8 apg 48,1% FG 34,4% 3PT 93,1% FT
2010 WCF - 33.7 ppg 7.2 rpg 8.3 apg 52,1% FG 43,2% 3PT 88,1% FT


:pimp:

[Lebron23]

2009 WCF - 34 ppg 5.8 rpg 5.8 apg 48,1% FG 34,4% 3PT 93,1% FT
2010 WCF - 33.7 ppg 7.2 rpg 8.3 apg 52,1% FG 43,2% 3PT 88,1% FT


:pimp:


lebron was also a pretty good conference finals performer.

[PyrrhusX]

More claims of coasting to mask the decline.

[WallIn]

You can sure see the physical decline now...

That's BS, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w03-kM9KoM


How the hell is averaging 26,2 pts/6,8 reb/6,5 ast considered a decline?

[Mure]

Dude is still crazy fast in the open court, easily the fastest player for his size in the game today. Can still get his head above the rim and has multiple times this year, only thing he's lost is a bit of his first step, but come on the dude is 6'8 and weighs 270.

[Marlo_Stanfield]

people dont realize that athletes physical decline starts later and later with better training, diets and overall improved sports science.
LeBron is an athlete like never seen before too.
this year for example hes more athletic than ever since joining Miami.
he wont decline drastically till age 34/35 and the other aspects of his game will be much better by that time:coleman:

[GOATbe]

He'll be one of the worst players in the league. The athleticism is literally the only thing makes him decent. He has no skillset unlike Kobe, Durant, Melo.

[ImKobe]

lebron was also a pretty good conference finals performer.

Agree, 2012 and 2013 ECF :bowdown: He was a beast

Kobe and Lebron both seem to have their best/most efficient series in the Conference Finals.

[RoundMoundOfReb]

He hasn't really shown any signs of decline yet so it's difficult to say.

[Solefade]

bron's bball iq, passing ability and willingness to pass will increase his longevity..

[brandonislegend]

FYI when Kobe and the Lakers won back to back NBA titles in 2009 and 2010. He didn't average over 27 ppg in the regular season. Sometimes putting up good numbers on a stack team really hurts the team chemistry.

Kobe 2009 - 26.8 ppg on 46.7 FG%
Kobe 2010 - 27.0 ppg on 45.6 FG%

I think Lebron will likely finish the season averaging 26.8 or 27 ppg on 58 FG%

Considering Kobe is a guard and LeBron is a forward...good job

[ImKobe]

Considering Kobe is a guard and LeBron is a forward...good job

Shocking right, front court player has a higher fg% than a guard.

[navy]

Considering Kobe is a guard and LeBron is a forward...good job
Lebron plays like a guard and Kobe is an elite post scorer. Excuses.

[sbw19]

His post game looks alright, it's improved and he's making use of it much more than he used to in the past. He needs to improve his FT shooting & work on his a midrange game though.

[FatComputerNerd]

bron's bball iq, passing ability and willingness to pass will increase his longevity..

As will his durability. Dude is built like a tank and rarely gets hurt.