LeBron has officially lost a step.

[ClipperRevival]

Obvious as night and day. From that groin injury to now is when he lost it. Just turned 34, right about the time when most guys go downhill. Buck up Bron fans, no one beats father time. He had an amazing run.

[STATUTORY]

a step? dis n99a done fallen down a whole flight of stairs :roll:

[Mr. Jabbar]

lost a conference

[ClipperRevival]

The guy is trying but the explosion is gone. Everything is a struggle for him now. WTF are the Lakers supposed to do now with 3 more yrs left in his contract? Lakers would be morons to trade YDK to appease Bron. Sh*t, right now, YDK is a better player. You keep him over Bron.

[Ben Simmons 25]

Brandon Ingram certainly isn't a better player than LeBron right now. That's how we know nothing you say is the least bit serious.

But...

LeBron is getting old. He's also still recovering from the injury, his defense has been trash for at least 3 years, and he's at least 20-30 lbs overweight right now.


It is extremely clear, however, that LeBron does not gel with the current cast of Lakers. Kuzma is probably the only one that there seems to be some semblance of synergy between the two with out of the starters.

So... you either dump LeBron because you think that the young guns will eventually lead you to the championship, or... you build a LeBron team which consists of three point shooters, rebounders and defenders because you think he can get you at least one ring before he retires.

But one thing is for certain... while this roster has a ton of talent, some of it is not yet fully developed and hardly any of it is complimentary to one another. You absolutely can't go into next season with this exact same roster. There isn't a coach in the league that could make this a 55 win team.

[Ben Simmons 25]

BTW LeBron has lost a step for about 8 or 9 years now... he hasn't been as athletic as he was in Cleveland for the first stint for a really, really long time... lol.

But in terms of just in general being "LeBron"? Yeah, he really lost a step about 3 years ago. 2015-2016 was the last time we saw that guy.

[Indian guy]

It's not the groin injury. Yes, that did slow him down further, but from the get-go this season his decline has been noticeable. And you'll see me talking about it in every Laker GT from Day 1.

There was a brief 3 week stretch from mid-November till early December where he kinda resembled his old self. Besides that, it's been LeOld all year. He's still good enough to get his within the flow of the game, but when the time comes to really impose himself because the situations requires it, he simply doesn't possess the ability to do so. And that's what separates the superstar from a mere All Star. A superstar merely has to play harder to make things happen. LeBron post-AS break actually is playing super hard, but none of it has actually helped him in moving faster or being able to jump. And LA just keeps on losing these winnable games because LeBron simply can't take over a qtr anymore.

[game3524]

BTW LeBron has lost a step for about 8 or 9 years now... he hasn't been as athletic as he was in Cleveland for the first stint for a really, really long time... lol.

But in terms of just in general being "LeBron"? Yeah, he really lost a step about 3 years ago. 2015-2016 was the last time we saw that guy.

It was never this bad though. That injury has really ****ed him over.

[ClipperRevival]

Brandon Ingram certainly isn't a better player than LeBron right now. That's how we know nothing you say is the least bit serious.

But...

LeBron is getting old. He's also still recovering from the injury, his defense has been trash for at least 3 years, and he's at least 20-30 lbs overweight right now.


It is extremely clear, however, that LeBron does not gel with the current cast of Lakers. Kuzma is probably the only one that there seems to be some semblance of synergy between the two with out of the starters.

So... you either dump LeBron because you think that the young guns will eventually lead you to the championship, or... you build a LeBron team which consists of three point shooters, rebounders and defenders because you think he can get you at least one ring before he retires.

But one thing is for certain... while this roster has a ton of talent, some of it is not yet fully developed and hardly any of it is complimentary to one another. You absolutely can't go into next season with this exact same roster. There isn't a coach in the league that could make this a 55 win team.

YDK is averaging 29+ PPG last 3 games and has the better +/- than Bron every game and he plays defense.

[Ben Simmons 25]

YDK is averaging 29+ PPG last 3 games and has the better +/- than Bron every game and he plays defense.

If your sample size is 3 games, you've already lost the argument.

[nashwade]

MIA bron was the best version... it was good while it lasted. Let's just hope he exits the NBA with dignity

[Ben Simmons 25]

Yes LeBron has clearly lost a step but you guys are up in here acting like he's Carmelo Anthony... what the ****? lol

[ClipperRevival]

If your sample size is 3 games, you've already lost the argument.

I'm not looking in the past bro. I am looking forward. Bron is yesterday's news. YDK is 21 with his arrow pointing way up.

[ClipperRevival]

It's not the groin injury. Yes, that did slow him down further, but from the get-go this season his decline has been noticeable. And you'll see me talking about it in every Laker GT from Day 1.

There was a brief 3 week stretch from mid-November till early December where he kinda resembled his old self. Besides that, it's been LeOld all year. He's still good enough to get his within the flow of the game, but when the time comes to really impose himself because the situations requires it, he simply doesn't possess the ability to do so. And that's what separates the superstar from a mere All Star. A superstar merely has to play harder to make things happen. LeBron post-AS break actually is playing super hard, but none of it has actually helped him in moving faster or being able to jump. And LA just keeps on losing these winnable games because LeBron simply can't take over a qtr anymore.

Yup, noticed you mention it a few times in the game day threads. But in the past, he still had enough explosion to impose his will on the game. Now, it's just a pure struggle. Just losing that one step means all the difference in the world.

Dude had an amazing run. One of the best ever for sure.

[Indian guy]

BTW LeBron has lost a step for about 8 or 9 years now... he hasn't been as athletic as he was in Cleveland for the first stint for a really, really long time... lol.

But in terms of just in general being "LeBron"? Yeah, he really lost a step about 3 years ago. 2015-2016 was the last time we saw that guy.

Oh boy, none of this true. His weird years were 2011 and 2012, where it did seem like he had lost a step and it was often depressing to watch him. Went back to normal in 2013 and has frankly gone from strength to strength athletically since (not referring to motor/stamina). 2018>2017>2014>2015 (post-break)>2016>2013.

2019 is really the first year this late into the season where you can clearly tell he's no longer a player who possesses superstar ability.

[Ben Simmons 25]

Oh boy, none of this true. His weird years were 2011 and 2012, where it did seem like he had lost a step and it was often depressing to watch him. Went back to normal in 2013 and has frankly gone from strength to strength athletically since (not referring to motor/stamina). 2018>2017>2014>2015 (post-break)>2016>2013.

2019 is really the first year this late into the season where you can clearly tell he's no longer a player who possesses superstar ability.

LeBron's athletic ability peaked in Cleveland during his first stint with them. I've watched his entire career. Baseline to baseline he was never as fast as those first 7 years in the league. Period.

I'm not saying he wasn't a superstar athletically after that... of course he was... but that IS when he peaked athletically.

And then mental game + athletics combo he probably peaked in 2013.

[Spurs m8]

MIA bron was the best version... it was good while it lasted. Let's just hope he exits the NBA with dignity

His ego will not let him do this tbh

[game3524]

MIA bron was the best version... it was good while it lasted. Let's just hope he exits the NBA with dignity

Nah, 2009 LeBron was the best version of Bron.

[Indian guy]

LeBron's athletic ability peaked in Cleveland during his first stint with them.

Of course, that's a given.

I was talking about his body from 2011-2019.

[NBASTATMAN]

Oh boy, none of this true. His weird years were 2011 and 2012, where it did seem like he had lost a step and it was often depressing to watch him. Went back to normal in 2013 and has frankly gone from strength to strength athletically since (not referring to motor/stamina). 2018>2017>2014>2015 (post-break)>2016>2013.

2019 is really the first year this late into the season where you can clearly tell he's no longer a player who possesses superstar ability.


He looked fine early on up until the injury.. Lakers going to struggle without any bench scoring .. They may have to call back beasley.. :lol

[bullettooth]

a step? dis n99a done fallen down a whole flight of stairs :roll:

https://i.gifer.com/NG9.gif

[n00bie]

We knew this would happen years ago. LeBron was only dominating because of his size and speed. He never had a great post up game. He never had good dribbles. He was nevee great at creating space. All he did was charge toward the rim. Well..now that hes slower hea turning into a karl malone without post up moves.

[hiphopanonymous]

Still quick as ever to cry for a foul

[ClipperRevival]

We knew this would happen years ago. LeBron was only dominating because of his size and speed. He never had a great post up game. He never had good dribbles. He was nevee great at creating space. All he did was charge toward the rim. Well..now that hes slower hea turning into a karl malone without post up moves.

Yup. He should've worked on a reliable back to the basket game to prolong his career. Never had a great triple threat game, no pull up jumper game, etc. That's what MJ had. All of that skill to rely on.

[Shaquille O'Neal]

Nah, 2009 LeBron was the best version of Bron.


Agree 100% here. He seemed really gassed at the end of the game tonight...I'm 45 - I look like that after a couple pickup games - bent over holding my knees. Old age sucks.

[PP34Deuce]

Lebrons last elite athleticsm wsh 2016. In 2016 he could guard and play elite.

He actually plays more like after prime paul pierce with the step back and getting to the basket with upper body strength.

Curious to see if bron transitions to full time 4 or if he looks to lose weight and become a SF. Either way how he plays dictates what moves the Lakers would make.

[game3524]

Lebrons last elite athleticsm wsh 2016. In 2016 he could guard and play elite.

He actually plays more like after prime paul pierce with the step back and getting to the basket with upper body strength.

Curious to see if bron transitions to full time 4 or if he looks to lose weight and become a SF. Either way how he plays dictates what moves the Lakers would make.

I thought he was pretty athletic in 2017 and 2018.

[PP34Deuce]

I thought he was pretty athletic in 2017 and 2018.


2016 was the last year you him make decisive cuts and play defense.

2017 and 2018 he did a good job of making his decline by not playing defense except for 3 4 minute stretches.

I saw the Grizzlies game. He really wanted to win. He cant move his body the way he wants. Hes not melo at all but his athleticm is like 2010 paul pierce. Kinda speaks to how much a freak athlete he was.

Obligations for bucks game prompt me to believe lebron will be shut down.

[NBASTATMAN]

Truthfully he has lost like 4 or 5 steps. He was still playing at a high level before injury

[OldSchoolBBall]

How long til another "Miami" trip were he returns with his 2013 athleticism? ;)

[bullettooth]

How long til another "Miami" trip were he returns with his 2013 athleticism? ;)

Approximately 3 to 9 days.

[Mr.GOAT2408]

He's up there in age and has a recent major groin injury, he's lost a step gradually since his first year with the Heat (but gained in overall skillset) but still showed elite athleticism even earlier this season

But he's looked sluggish of late, its life. Happens to the best of them