Welcome to the Basketball Hangover. I write about what’s happening in the NBA daily, even when COVID has ravaged the league.
LeBron James returned to Cleveland as an opponent for the first time in over two years.
(PHOTO CREDIT: David Richard/USA Today.)
We all expect every NBA player to get defeated by Father Time, eventually. All of them experience a decline. Sometimes, a cruel and sharp decline happens. Suddenly, their bodies won’t cooperate, especially when they have had a multitude of injuries.
So LeBron James can look a step slower and his vertical may be a tad lower. But it’s really insane how he still looks mostly unstoppable in his 18th year in the league. The 36-year-old LeBron has a ton of miles on him, which is furthered by the fact that he’s been to 10 NBA Finals.
Yet he looked like the best player by a mile in his return to Cleveland. Sure, Anthony Davis is in his prime and can dominate a game. There is Young Bull Collin Sexton looking to make a name for himself. Then LeBron just beat down everyone with an accurate three-pointer (7 for 11 in that game; by the way, he’s shooting a career-best .412 from three!).
Not only that but he was still making jaw-dropping blocks. He was making turnaround jumpers in people’s faces. And no one can seem to stop his drives to the hoop. LeBron James has the point guard mentality but yet he’s shaped like Karl Malone. It is still insane what he can do TODAY.
A lot of us expect for him to settle down into an old man game. Maybe just go to the post and use his footwork and guile to outfox an opponent. Yet if you tell me LeBron is in his 6th year in the league, I would be fooled. 46-8-6 on the night against the Cavs. Let’s throw in two blocks and two steals. Unbelievable. And with the way it’s going, he could win a 5th Most Valuable Player award. Isn’t it also weird that he hasn’t won the MVP award in nearly 8 years?
A lot of pundits have said over the years how other players have taken the top spot in the league. Giannis Antetokounmpo. Kevin Durant. Kawhi Leonard. But LeBron keeps proving it year after year that he’s still the undisputed best. We’re always looking for the next best thing or the next big superstar but LeBron has been pretty much that guy for the last two decades. And we probably shouldn’t look any further until LeBron experiences the inevitable decline, which seems to be never at this point.
Bullet Passes
Stephen Curry came back with 36 points as the Warriors dumped on the Wolves. Nice recovery after they got plastered by the Jazz.
Luka Doncic had another amazing triple-double at 35-11-16. But it was the return of Michael Porter, Jr. that helped the Nuggets win over the Mavs. He must have been really eager to return because he got 30 points and 8 boards.
The Pacers have a hard time staying healthy as Domantas Sabonis went down with a knee injury. But Malcolm Brogdon dropped a career-best 36 points in a win over Toronto.
Jayson Tatum also made his return to the Celtics. He scored 24 in a win over Chicago.
Jimmy Butler is due back soon after quarantine. Couldn’t come at a better time as the Heat are currently sinking at 6-10.
I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the anniversary of the passing of Kobe and Gianna Bryant. I also think that it’s appropriate that I talk about LeBron in this column. After all, Kobe’s last tweet the day before was to LeBron. James also had passed Kobe as the third leading scorer of all-time in the NBA. It was almost like a proverbial passing of the torch.
Hug your loved ones a little tighter today.
NBA Scoreboard
Jan. 25, 2021
Watch This Play
Anthony Edwards is a TOP GUN.
OH MY ANTHONY EDWARDS. pic.twitter.com/Rir2xUrwi7
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 26, 2021
Look at him take flight as #2 pick James Wiseman helplessly watches him.
Everyone, please take care of yourselves during this pandemic. And that goes for everyone involved with the NBA as well.
You can find Rey-Rey on Twitter at @TheNoLookPass.
You can also check out Rey-Rey’s podcast, Rey-Rey Is Fundamental, for more basketball content and, really, whatever else. GG.