What will happen when LeBron gets old?

[LarBrd33]

He's highly skilled and very big.  Barring injury, I could see the guy playing well into his late 30s as a post player.  The dude has the body of Karl Malone, but he's far more gifted than Malone ever was.

  If you took away LeBron's ability to drive then he wouldn't be the scorer that Malone was. I don't know that his game will hold up as well.

You sure, Tim?  LeBron made 60% of his attempts from 3-9 feet this season:  http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1555561-is-lebron-james-the-best-shooter-in-the-nba

Edit:  he shot 46% from 16-23 feet which is one of the best in the league.    From 10-15 feet, he wasn't as good... only shooting 41%, but he takes 1 of those a night.  As his game evolves with age and he moves closer inside, I see no reason to believe he can't become an elite mid-range shooter.  His true shooting percentage this year was only slightly below Durant.

Its interesting, the same thing is happening to LeBron as happened with jordan. Jordan wasn't a great shooter when he first entered the league, but he evolved into an absolutely deadly jump shooter as his athleticism faded.

[Boris Badenov]

As a PF he is built like Malone but has the shooting and passing abilities more comparable to Bird (who was nominally an SF but would be a 4 in today's game).

Bird was a much better shooter than LeBron.  You have drank the NBA kool-aid.   We all know LeBron wins the three point shooting contest every year.

Consider the amount of dunks he takes that vastly inflate his shooting % and what you have left is an average jumpshooter to slightly above average.   I would not consider him a marksman like Bird.

No, I never said they were equal, I said Lebron's shooting (and passing) is "more comparable" to Bird's than Malone's. Bird was a much better shooter than Lebron is currently. Bird was also much more fluid as a ball-handler and passer than Lebron will ever be, I would guess.

However, Lebron has gotten better as a shooter. He was 41% from 3 this year, on volume comparable to what Bird shot (~3 per game). Bird shot a little better than that during his peak, but not much. My point was just that Mailman never had that kind of range.

I don't think James is a better shooter than Malone. He may have more range, but he isn't a better shooter. People probably forget just how dangerous Malone was in pick and pops with Stockton.

Again, I was just talking about where they shoot from, I didn't say anything about one being better than the other.

I will say though, that I could see Lebron ending up being just as good from mid-range as Malone, or close. He's already pretty good as LarBrd33 says above. And, our recollections of how good Malone's shooting was (mine anyway) are mostly based on how he shot in his early to mid-30s, and Lebron could very plausibly improve his shooting a lot by the time he reaches that age.

We'll see.

[LarBrd33]

As a PF he is built like Malone but has the shooting and passing abilities more comparable to Bird (who was nominally an SF but would be a 4 in today's game).

Bird was a much better shooter than LeBron.  You have drank the NBA kool-aid.   We all know LeBron wins the three point shooting contest every year.

Consider the amount of dunks he takes that vastly inflate his shooting % and what you have left is an average jumpshooter to slightly above average.   I would not consider him a marksman like Bird.

No, I never said they were equal, I said Lebron's shooting (and passing) is "more comparable" to Bird's than Malone's. Bird was a much better shooter than Lebron is currently. Bird was also much more fluid as a ball-handler and passer than Lebron will ever be, I would guess.

However, Lebron has gotten better as a shooter. He was 41% from 3 this year, on volume comparable to what Bird shot (~3 per game). Bird shot a little better than that during his peak, but not much. My point was just that Mailman never had that kind of range.

I don't think James is a better shooter than Malone. He may have more range, but he isn't a better shooter. People probably forget just how dangerous Malone was in pick and pops with Stockton.

Again, I was just talking about where they shoot from, I didn't say anything about one being better than the other.

I will say though, that I could see Lebron ending up being just as good from mid-range as Malone, or close. He's already pretty good as LarBrd33 says above. And, our recollections of how good Malone's shooting was (mine anyway) are mostly based on how he shot in his early to mid-30s, and Lebron could very plausibly improve his shooting a lot by the time he reaches that age.

We'll see.

If his ability to improve his 3 point shooting and shooting from 16-23 feet is any indication, LeBron is going to have no trouble evolving into a deadly mid-range shooter if he's ever required to do so.  The guy can play at an elite level for a VERY long time if he stays healthy.  He's a freak.  He's already one of the nastiest post players in the league since incorporating it into his game.

[Celtics4ever]

Call me when he wins a three point contest but he will not enter because he knows and most of us aside from you, know he would lose.

Yes, his jumper has improved.   But he is no Larry in terms of shooting or rebounding.  I definitely think he is a better scorer, athlete and passer.  But shooting, no way he competes.   

Malone and him and poor comparisons he was a pick and roll guy.   Bird and him are poor comparisons as Bird played more on the wing than he does, he creates a lot from the top of the key.   Dominique is the closest I have seen to LeBron, you have the athletic ability, ability to do whatever he wanted.   That being said he compares well to Nique.   I have never thought he was like Jordan either.  But Bird is a totally different animal.

I also think it is fair to say toss Bosh and Wade in their with Malone and he wins a title too.  For a long time it was he and Stockton.

If his ability to improve his 3 point shooting and shooting from 16-23 feet is any indication, LeBron is going to have no trouble evolving into a deadly mid-range shooter if he's ever required to do so.  The guy can play at an elite level for a VERY long time if he stays healthy.  He's a freak.  He's already one of the nastiest post players in the league since incorporating it into his game.

No one stays healthy forever.   Age beats all men at some point.  He is only flesh and bone.

[CelticsFan9]

I think adding a post game to his offensive arsenal will extend LeBron's career a solid three or four years.  The guy is built like Malone, so it's not like he's going to have trouble banging down low.

He'll be handling the ball on the perimeter less, that's for sure.

The next sep is improving his jump shot, to a degree where teams have to respect it.  I know it's already more than solid, but teams right now would rather he shoot than drive and lay it in.  If he can get his jump shot to a point where teams are going to have to step out and truly respect it, he could expand his already fantastic offensive game.

LeBron will probably play until he's about 38 or 39, or if he gets offered a reality TV show.  Whichever comes first.

[CelticsFan9]

  Malone and him and poor comparisons he was a pick and roll guy.   Bird and him are poor comparisons as Bird played more on the wing than he does, he creates a lot from the top of the key.   Dominique is the closest I have seen to LeBron, you have the athletic ability, ability to do whatever he wanted.   That being said he compares well to Nique.   I have never thought he was like Jordan

I consider LeBron a Magic Johnson-Scottie Pippen hybrid.

[hpantazo]

  Malone and him and poor comparisons he was a pick and roll guy.   Bird and him are poor comparisons as Bird played more on the wing than he does, he creates a lot from the top of the key.   Dominique is the closest I have seen to LeBron, you have the athletic ability, ability to do whatever he wanted.   That being said he compares well to Nique.   I have never thought he was like Jordan

I consider LeBron a Magic Johnson-Scottie Pippen hybrid.

that's a very spot on comparison imo

[slamtheking]

t he is no Larry in terms of shooting or rebounding.  I definitely think he is a better scorer, athlete and passer.  But shooting, no way he competes.   

he doesn't compare to Larry in passing ability either.  ever watch Bird play?  The only passer comparable to him in his day was Magic. 

Lebron's a very good passer but he's not in Bird's league

[CelticConcourse]

No one said "He dies" yet?

[Roy H.]

Lebron doesn't just rely on his physical gifts.  He's got good vision and instincts, too.  Barring injury, he'll thrive into his mid- to late-30s.

[Celtics4ever]

he doesn't compare to Larry in passing ability either.  ever watch Bird play?  The only passer comparable to him in his day was Magic. 

I have seen and forgot more about Bird than you ever will.   Larry was a more spectacular passer,   he is my all time favorite player but he only averaged 6 per game.  James assists numbers are better.  Statistically he is a better passer. Your wrong or you can't read APG stats.

I think was the most clever passer of the two.   But Lebron has better numbers.

I consider LeBron a Magic Johnson-Scottie Pippen hybrid.

Not bad.  Perhaps a Magic/Pippen hybird in Malone's body with Niques jumping. LOL.

[SHAQATTACK]

we win banner 18

[2short]

Some young hotshot starts getting the calls instead of Lebron and suddenly he looks like most other players.   Lebron is an AMAZING physical player but inno way does he compare to bird or magic in passing.  When he first started he had the court vision ans team play they did but it left quickly , I could care less about his assist stats, he is not in the same league.   Bird and magic much much much more than Jordan made the pass and th e team game a thing of beauty.   Lebron gets old ans stops getting the AMAZING one sided calls his way he  levels out at a very good player/all star.  He does not have the skill set or bb iq of bird magic or even Durant.

[BleedGreen1989]

Lebron doesn't just rely on his physical gifts.  He's got good vision and instincts, too.  Barring injury, he'll thrive into his mid- to late-30s.

Yea we hate on Lebron a lot here obviously but the guys basketball IQ is off the charts.

I bet he could be very effective into his late 30's.