LeBron James continues to defy everything we thought was possible in the NBA.
At 41 years old and in his 23rd season, he’s not just hanging on, he’s still impacting games at an elite level and firmly remains among the league’s top players.
Because of that, there’s no real parallel for James within basketball.
If any comparisons exist, they have to come from outside the sport.
One that fits is Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux, who spent 23 seasons in Major League Baseball, played into his early 40s, and stayed effective long after most athletes decline.
Lakers coach JJ Redick referenced that kind of longevity when talking about LeBron, noting the resemblance to Maddux as he reflected on whether his expectations for LeBron have changed at this stage of his career.
“No,” Redick said, via Spectrum SportsNet. “Not recalculating because I know LeBron, I know how much he puts into this. I think it’s just recognizing, game-to-game, what he has. He’s Greg Maddux at the end of his career. Every night he doesn’t have his best stuff, but he has enough to win and I’m his catcher, I’m figuring out how to call the pitches. Sometimes he tells me to F-off and calls his own pitch which is fine too. To me it’s that, it’s like what’s the best way to kinda utilize him tonight based on the opponent, based on the coverage, based on how he’s moving. We have conversations sometimes in-game ‘how’s your 3-ball feel? Alright, I’m gonna run this softball play for you or I’m gonna put you in this spot versus the pick-and-roll because I know that you’ll end up with the shot.’ It’s really just that ongoing dialogue with him. To me what he’s doing at 41, what he did last year at 40, it’s greatness, it’s just a different form of greatness.”
READ MORE: Luka Doncic Can’t Believe What LeBron James is Doing at 41
