5 reasons why LeBron James' age has failed to slow him down in the NBA

LeBron James ages like fine wine. The Los Angeles Lakers forward is currently in his 20th NBA season, yet he's still amazing. In eight games so far in the 2022-23 season, LeBron is averaging 24 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists.

Father Time has outbested many other superstars in the league, including LeBron's contemporaries like Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony. James, however, remains undefeated.

This article will reveal five reasons why LeBron James' age has failed to slow him down.

LeBron James added jump shot to his arsenal

Thanks to his 20-year experience in the league, James has seen it all. During his rookie season, the NBA looked different and 3-point shots weren't as important as they are today.

LeBron is not a great 3-point shooter. However, as the league began taking more 3-point shots, James improved as well. During one season in Miami, the forward even shot 40.6% from long range, which is impressive.

Taking shots from beyond the arc takes less of a toll on your body than slashing, which is why the 37-year-old forward has managed to stay relatively injury-free throughout his career.

Playmaking is a big part of LeBron's game

LeBron James ranks second on the NBA's all-time scoring list, trailing only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. If everything goes according to plan, the 20-year NBA veteran will surpass the Lakers legend in early 2023.

You may be interested in reading: When can LeBron James pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the all-time top scorer in the NBA?

LeBron's passing makes him extremely tough to guard (Image via Getty Images)

The four-time NBA champion doesn't have to score to help his team win. Throughout his impressive career, James has averaged 7.4 assists. He even led the league in this category in the 2019-20 season with 10.2 assists per game.

LeBron's court vision and passing skills make him extremely tough to guard. He gets his teammates involved, so even when he's not physically ready to attack the basket, he can drastically impact the game.

LeBron has invested millions in his body

LeBron James has spent millions of dollars on his body throughout his 20-year professional career. However, he knows that his body is his greatest investment, and this is a big reason why his age hasn't slowed him down.

The Lakers superstar spends more than $1 million a year on his body, making sure that he's in world-class shape.

LeBron invests a lot of money to stay in shape (Image via Getty Images)

Considering that LeBron James' net worth is estimated at more than $1 billion, he can afford to spend a million or two on his body every year.

You may be interested in reading: How does LeBron James' net worth compare to other LA Lakers legends such as Shaquille O'Neal, Magic Johnson, and more?

This investment involves paying for chefs, massage therapists, gyms, trainers, and more. James strives to be the greatest and has an impeccable work ethic, which is why it's not surprising that he's still one of the best players in the league.

LeBron's post moves are on point

Similar to his shot development, the 18-time All-Star has also developed his post game. When he joined the Miami Heat in 2010, LeBron started working on his post moves and they are now a consistent facet of his game.

James can easily outplay players in the post. When he gets too close to the basket, opposing defenses mostly double him, which opens up an opportunity for an easy assist.

James hasn't suffered any serious injury

Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Carmelo Anthony were all drafted in 2003. However, they have all dealt with serious injuries during their careers, which is not the case with LeBron.

Out of the three players, Anthony has played the most regular-season games, which is 1,260. LeBron James, on the other hand, has appeared in 1,374 games so far. When we add playoff games to the equation, LeBron's advantage grows even bigger.

LeBron and Wade were both drafted in the 2003 NBA draft (Image via Getty Images)

By the time LeBron's career ends, he will have most likely appeared in more than 1,500 regular-season games, which is impressive. At the moment, the Lakers forward ranks seventh in total games played in NBA history.

LeBron needs four more appearances to surpass Tim Duncan for the sixth spot on the list. If he plays 158 more games in his career, which is approximately two seasons, he will surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the first spot on the list.