When Michael Jordan came back from his first retirement and Kobe had been in the league 15+ plus years, they had both lost their explosiveness that they were known for in their younger years.
Because they were basketball savants, they changed their game to incorporate more post-ups and mid-range shots. Their footwork became impeccable, and it allowed them to play and score at high levels for the rest of their careers.
LeBron knows he can’t play 1 on 5 forever, so he is looking for ways to extend his career. ESPN has the story.
James, who will turn 34 in December, had studied the careers of all-time greats such as Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan and noted how they moved from the wing to the post as they approached their mid-30s. Bryant, for example, averaged 5.5 post-ups per game in his age-36 season in 2014-15 (most among guards) and 2.9 post-ups per game in his age-37 season (still fifth-most among guards).
Playing more like Bryant and Jordan will take time and patience, and James told Johnson that some habits will be hard to break, sources said. But James knows playing more inside and yielding some control of the ball is important as he ages and his athleticism starts to fade. At 6-foot-8, 260 pounds with great vision and passing skills, he may be better equipped for success than the smaller Jordan and Bryant.
As far as the curious moves to bring in Rondo and Lance Stephenson, that has more to do with defense and leadership than thinking those guys are going to cut into the young players time.
What Johnson pitched to James was a team stocked with tough-minded playmakers like Stephenson and Rondo who could free up James to finish in the lanes and from the post, rather than having to create the lion’s share of the offense himself. Rondo and Stephenson are also defensively versatile, as their length enables them to be effective defenders in switches. That also follows with the talents of the 6-foot-6 Ball, who showed the ability to be an elite rebounder and defender for a guard in his rookie year.
Beyond James’ role, the Lakers realize they have a young team and see adding Rondo as a key piece to provide leadership besides James. The Lakers noticed an immediate impact when Isaiah Thomas joined the team last season (ironically, after a trade from James’ Cavs). His veteran presence had an effect on all their young players and reinforced what the coaches had been preaching. Coach Luke Walton would often compliment Thomas for mentoring the young players. The Lakers are hoping it will be the same with Rondo, who also acts as an insurance policy on Ball, who missed 30 games with injury last season.
This all might work, or it could fail miserably, but either way, we will all be watching.
Flip the page on how the new look Lakers will look on court.