As the NBA pauses for All-Star Weekend, few players welcome the break more than LeBron James.
At 41 years old and deep into his 23rd season, the Los Angeles Lakers star has logged heavy minutes while continuing to perform at an All-Star level, a reality that has not gone unnoticed around the league.
Despite the rest opportunity, James still added another milestone to his résumé by appearing in his 22nd consecutive All-Star Game.
The achievement is especially notable considering he opened the season injured and needed time to regain rhythm before returning to elite form.
During All-Star Weekend, Nikola Jokic was asked about James’ durability and sustained excellence. The Denver Nuggets superstar, a three-time MVP, did not hesitate to express his admiration.
“I mean, just you can see how many players cannot stay healthy and cannot be in the league for such a long time,” Jokic said. “I think being in this league for so long and I’m going to say producing the numbers, he’s still one of the best players in the league, even in this stage of his career.”
Jokic expanded on why James’ impact remains so striking, particularly when viewed through the lens of the league’s younger generation.
“He’s still making a change on the floor when he gets in and making advantage. I think it’s impressive to see that someone is doing that for 22 years. We have some players who are, like, 19, 20 and still they’re in the league. It’s impressive. Definitely we all should admire that, how good. I think maybe we don’t see that right now, but after when he stops playing, I think we’re going to admire it even more.”
READ MORE: Rob Pelinka’s Future Hangs in Balance as Pressure Mounting in L.A.
