Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James may be the oldest player in the league, but he has got arguably the best basketball IQ in today’s game.
James may not be as athletic as he used to be, but whatever he’s lost physically he’s made up for mentally. Even at 41 years old, LeBron is able to hang with his peers because he’s always got a grasp of what’s happening on the floor and what he needs to do to get the looks he wants. Jarred Vanderbilt has been able to see up close and personal how James can dominate games with his IQ, calling it the the thing that separates him from his peers.
Several players around the league have been fortunate enough to team up with LeBron, including Utah Jazz big man Kevin Love. James and Love were teammates with the Cleveland Cavaliers and their partnership culminated with the franchise’s first championship.
On an appearance on “The Old Man And The Three” podcast, Love didn’t hesitate to name James as the smartest player he’s ever played with:
“Easy LeBron. He knows every…he’s playing so much damn golf now that I don’t know if he knows everybody’s play. But he was the type of guy that could, you know, in shootaround or even out there on the floor he could do every team’s scout. He knew every team’s play, he knew every guy’s tendency, he watched an endless amount of basketball.”
James has a reputation for calling out plays on the floor, something that isn’t normal even at the NBA level. He combines his basketball IQ with his size and vision to become a major threat whenever the basketball is in his hands, something the Lakers will need to leverage as they navigate the second half of the 2025-26 season.
Los Angeles is right in the middle of the Western Conference standings, though James is rounding into form after missing the beginning of the season. With James looking more like himself physically, he’s gone back to being a focal point on both sides of the basketball though the Lakers need everyone to step up to climb up the standings.
JJ Redick compares LeBron James to MLB legend Greg Maddux
James’ production at 41 years old is unheard of in the NBA, something head coach JJ Redick wastes no time mentioning when discussing the Lakers star. There aren’t many athletes across professional sports who have been as good as James has been this late into their careers, though Redick found a good comparison in MLB legend Greg Maddux.
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