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Friday 30 december 2022

As he turns 38, LeBron is clear: He still wants title shots

By TIM REYNOLDS 6.6 assists this season. He’s
AP Basketball Writer never finished a season
MIAMI (AP) — It was 2006. with averages that high in
LeBron James wasn’t even all three of those catego-
midway through his first stint ries not even in any of his
in Cleveland. He made the four MVP seasons.
playoffs for the first time, “I don’t want to finish my
was already a globally rec- career playing at this lev-
ognized star and well on el, from a team aspect,”
his way to becoming the James said. “I want to still
game’s best player. be able to compete for
As a 21-year-old, he aver- championships because I
aged 30.2 points. know what I can still bring
Fast forward 16 years. He’s to any ballclub with the
left Cleveland, gone to right pieces.”
Miami, won two champi- He’ll be a 38-year-old All-
onships, gotten married, Star when the game rolls
became a father of three, around in February; only
gone back to Cleveland, five other players have
won another champion- been in that game at 38 or
ship, left for Los Angeles, older. The Lakers are only
won a fourth champion- three games out of the last
ship with the Lakers, still a play-in tournament spot, so
giant star, still in the best- Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) drives around Orlando Magic guard Markelle Fultz it’s not like there’s no hope
player conversation. As a (20) during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. for this season.
37-year-old, he averaged Associated Press But he’s not playing for All-
30.1 points. James turns 38 there playing his own indi- 37, anyway. He averaged skills to put in his toolkit. He Star longevity marks, or the
on Friday, midway through vidual game of H-O-R-S-E. not just the 30.1 points, but doesn’t get bored with that chance to squeak into the
his 20th season. Nobody in He actually works on the 8.5 rebounds and 6.2 as- process. You can tell. He’s playoffs, or even scoring
NBA history has averaged shots and just being ready sists during this lap around like a computer. When he records. He doesn’t know
so many points as a 37-year- to be able to strike from the sun. Only six players at sees another player work how much longer he wants
old. Not even close. Karl any zone or any distance.” that age averaged more on something, or do some- to play, but knows what he
Malone averaged 23.2 James is closing in on pass- rebounds, only four players thing in the game, he says, still wants to do.
points at that age, Kareem ing Abdul-Jabbar for the Steve Nash, Chris Paul, Ja- ‘Oh, I want to try that.’ ... “I’m a winner. And I want

Abdul-Jabbar averaged NBA career scoring record son Kidd and John Stock- He never gets bored with to win,” James said. “I want
20.2 and Julius Erving av- they’re separated by only ton, four of the best point that.” The Lakers are 14-21 to win and give myself a
eraged 20.2. There have 574 points and he’s as pro- guards ever averaged and are without perennial chance to win and still
been 150 players in NBA his- lific a scorer as he’s ever more assists at 37. All-Star big man Anthony compete for champion-
tory who played at 37; the been. At his current pace, James Davis, who remains out with ships. That has always been
average scoring clip of the “I do know how much I could catch Abdul-Jab- a foot injury with no time- my passion, my goal since
other 149 was 8.3 points per put into the game,” James bar for the scoring record table for his return. They’re I entered the league, an
game. said. “I know how much by early February. And he mired near the bottom of 18-year-old kid out of Ak-
Yet here is James, simply I put into my body, into doesn’t intend to stop play- the NBA and need a big ron, Ohio. I know it takes
not slowing down. He av- my mind, and all of those ing anytime soon, either, so rally in order to avoid miss- steps to get there. And
eraged more points at 37 things. But I kind of surprise that record might be way ing the playoffs for a sec- once you get there, you
then he did at 22. Or 23. Or myself sometimes, just at out of reach by the time ond consecutive season. know how to get there.
24. Or any other age over the level. When you look at James is actually done. Since James and Davis led “Playing basketball at this
the last 16 years. the history of the game... “He constantly works at his the Lakers to the 2020 NBA level just to be playing bas-
“I know how feverishly he doesn’t seem like many craft,” said Miami coach title, the team hasn’t won a ketball, it’s not in my DNA.
works on his game,” Lak- have played at this level Erik Spoelstra, the only playoff series; it went out in It’s not in my DNA anymore.
ers coach Darvin Ham said. for this many years and this coach to win more than the first round in 2021, and So, we’ll see what hap-
“Just being in the gym, many miles and things on one championship with didn’t make it in 2022. pens. We’ll see how fresh
seeing him in the gym ... their resume.” James. “So, he’s going to James is averaging 27.8 my mind stays over the next
you know, he’s not just out Not many. If any. Not at continue to develop new points, 8.1 rebounds and couple of years.”q