LeBron James Is Taking His 3-Point Game to Another Stratosphere
LA Lakers superstar LeBron James is a career 34.4% shooter from beyond the arc. His best season from 3-point land was during the 2012-13 campaign when he shot 40.6% from deep with the Miami Heat.
While he won’t ever be considered a reliable 3-point shooter, LeBron James has been taking his 3-point game to another stratosphere ever since joining the Lakers in the summer of 2018.
LeBron James is still the best player in the NBA despite being 36
LeBron James is 36-years-old and has a ton of mileage on his body. However, he’s still the best all-around player in the NBA.
Through the Lakers’ first seven games of the 2020-21 season, James is averaging 23.6 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 7.4 assists while shooting 46.5% from the field, 38.6% from beyond the arc, and 73.7% from the free-throw line. The Lakers are 5-2, with their only two losses coming against the LA Clippers and Portland Trail Blazers.
James already has three double-doubles and one triple-double on the season. The four-time champion may be the first athlete ever to defeat father time, as LeBron is still dominating his opponents despite no longer being the most athletic player in the NBA.
Like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant did near the end of their careers, LeBron James relies on his high IQ and fundamentals to win games. The four-time Finals MVP is also channeling his inner Damian Lillard and hitting shots from the logo.
Logo LeBron is here for the Lakers
Against the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, LeBron James swished a 3-pointer from the Grizzlies’ logo, a shot Damian Lillard routinely hits for the Blazers. In the Lakers’ 14-point win over Memphis, LeBron finished with 22 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists in 32 minutes. James shot 3-of-6 from beyond the arc and 9-of-16 overall.
Since joining the Lakers as a free agent in 2018, James has been taking and making many 3-pointers from the logo. However, even during his days on the Cleveland Cavaliers and Heat, LeBron made long-distance shots look effortless. His upper body strength allows him to shoot the ball once he crosses half-court with ease.
He may not be an efficient 3-point shooter like Golden State Warriors point guard Stephen Curry, but LeBron James has proven time and time again that you have to guard him as soon as he crosses the half-court line.
Can the Lakers repeat as champions with LeBron James and Anthony Davis leading the way?
LeBron James is looking to win back-to-back titles for the second time in his legendary career. The Lakers are favored to come out of the West with James and Anthony Davis leading the way. Even though the Clippers defeated the Purple and Gold on opening night, no one will take them seriously unless they can prove themselves in the playoffs.
If the Lakers advance to the Finals again, they could face Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and the Brooklyn Nets. That would be an incredible Finals series, but neither the Lakers nor Nets can get ahead of themselves.
It’s going to be fascinating to see if LeBron James can lead the Lakers to their 18th title in franchise history and capture his fifth ring and fifth Finals MVP. His confidence shooting the ball from the logo may turn out to be the X factor.
Stats courtesy of Basketball Reference.
