Lakers News: Expert Wonders If LeBron James' Game Will Start Aging In Year 21
Though it's yet to happen at his advanced age, many are beginning to speculate exactly when a decline in abilities will hit Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James.
The forward is entering his 21st season in the league and some experts are predicting that this might be the year that James looks mortal for the first time, including Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report.
"This is the year James finally begins his descent, right? While we've seen minor slips in athleticism and in certain aspects of his game, it simply goes against everything we know about aging to see James still performing at this level with birthday No. 39 coming in a few months. James just recorded the highest scoring season in history for a 38-year-old (28.9 points per game), easily passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's previous record of 23.4 in 1985-86. Only two other players in the history of the league (Michael Jordan and Karl Malone) have averaged more than 14.2 points per game at this age. If Andre Iguodala indeed files his retirement paperwork, James will become the oldest player in the NBA, exactly 20 years after he became the youngest. By turning on the tape, watching him move and seeing the production James still puts out, you'd never know it."
After heavily pursuing the all time scoring record last season, James' body eventually broke down on him through a gruesome foot injury that the veteran opted to play through for the Lakers' postseason run.
Undergoing surgery for what was eventually revealed as a torn tendon in his foot was the recommendation, but James opted to push himself and his team to the Western Conference Finals.
Life after James is set to be a reality for purple and gold, but if LeBron's decline is truly starting now, they've got one more realistic shot to capture the championship.
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