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LeBron James doesn't seem to age, despite being in his 19th season in the NBA. He is still considered one of the top players in the league. He has had long and successful stints in Cleveland, Miami and now Los Angeles. James has won at least one championship with every team he has played for, even if it meant going back to Cleveland to make that happen.
Apart from being a top-notch scorer, through the years, he has also become an elite playmaker. The ease with which he finds open teammates makes watching him on the floor even more exciting.
On that note, here's a look at the top five playmaking seasons of his career so far:
#5 2018-19 - 8.3 APG
LeBron James, during his first season with the Purple and Gold, averaged 8.3 assists in 55 games. He played alongside a young core of Brandon Ingram, Lonzo Ball, Kyle Kuzma and Ivica Zubac. It was an underwhelming season for the Lakers, as they could not book a spot in the playoffs, finishing tenth in the West.
For the first time since 2006, LeBron James did not participate in the postseason. However, he averaged 27.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 8.3 assists per game.
#4 2009-10 - 8.6 APG
In the 2009-10 season, playing alongside Shaquille O'Neal, LeBron James' Cleveland Cavaliers took the top seed in the Eastern Conference with 61 wins. James was on a mission, finishing sixth in assists per game, with an average of 8.6, and second in scoring with 29.7 points per outing.
James was chosen as the Most Valuable Player of the Season. But the Cleveland Cavaliers could not get past the star-studded Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals.
#3 2016-17 - 8.7 APG
Defending champions Cleveland Cavaliers' LeBron James had another great season under coach Tyronn Lue in 2016-17. He recorded 26.4 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game through 74 games. His 8.7 assists per game was the sixth-best in the league at that point.
James and team had an easy road to the finals, beating the Boston Celtics 4-1 in the Eastern Conference Finals. But Steph Curry's Golden State Warriors, who acquired Kevin Durant in the offseason, proved to be a roadblock they could not surpass.
#2 2017-18 - 9.1 APG
After a disappointing end to their 2016-17 campaign, the Cleveland Cavaliers brought in some elite players to support LeBron James. Jae Crowder, Isaiah Thomas, Derrick Rose, Jordan Clarkson and James' former teammate Dwayne Wade were among the notable players added to the roster.
LeBron James led his team in scoring (27.5 PPG), playmaking (9.1 APG), steals (1.4 SPG) and blocks (0.9 BPG). In rebounding, he was second, behind Kevin Love with 8.6 rebounds per game. Unfortunately, the Cavaliers were swept in the 2018 NBA Finals by their rivals Golden State Warriors, yet again.
#1 2019-20 - 10.2 APG
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers got serious in the offseason, acquiring Anthony Davis from the New Orleans Pelicans. Moreover, they gave up forward Brandon Ingram, guards Lonzo Ball and Josh Hart and a few future draft picks.
In a season shortened and modified (with a play-in tournament) due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Lakers finished on the top of the Western Conference with a 52-19 record.
In the 2019-20 season, James led the league in assists, averaging a double-digit 10.2 assists per game tally. It became his best playmaking season till date. The LA Lakers were locked in going into the playoffs. They beat the Portland Trail Blazers, Houston Rockets and Denver Nuggets to make it to the NBA Finals. It was their first final appearance since 2010.
LeBron James faced one of his former teams, the Miami Heat, in the NBA Finals. It took the Lakers six games to etch their name in history as NBA champions for the 17th time.
LeBron James was named Finals MVP for the fourth time in his career, averaging 29.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 8.5 assists in the 2020 NBA Finals. With that, he became the first player in league history to be named Finals MVP with three different franchises.
