LeBron James continues to write his own basketball script. Despite being 39 years old, he led the Lakers to a crucial victory over the Memphis Grizzlies just two days ago. LeBron notched 23 points, 14 rebounds, and 12 assists, making him the second oldest player in NBA history to achieve a triple-double. LeBron’s incredible longevity and brilliance are something to be marveled at. However, despite his continued excellence, the Lakers have faltered this season.

The Los Angeles Lakers currently languish at the 9th spot in the Western Conference standings, with 41 wins from 73 games. Winning the 2024 NBA championship seems highly improbable for the Lakers at the moment. But if LeBron manages to guide LA to NBA glory, former rival and Celtics legend Paul Pierce believes that LeBron would surpass Michael Jordan as the GOAT. During a recent episode of the Undisputed, Pierce said, “This (leading the Lakers to the 2024 NBA title) will be his greatest feat… If that doesn’t tell you GOAT of all GOATs, then I don’t know what does.”

Paul Pierce’s remarks have taken the basketball community by surprise, given his history as one of LeBron’s fiercest rivals during his time with the Celtics. However, this highlights LeBron James’ exceptional longevity and skill. Despite this, LeBron has faced criticism from fans following his recent statements regarding personal health and load management. In an interview with ESPN, LeBron said, “I got to be smart with it. If I’m not healthy, or [anywhere] close to being healthy, then it’s not good for our ballclub, anyway.”

Several fans believe that LeBron’s primary focus on extending his career takes precedence over his dedication to lead the Lakers to NBA glory. But is that the case?

Is LeBron James prioritizing personal glory?

No, such allegations lack credibility when examining basic statistics. LeBron James leads the Lakers in points per game, with 25.3 points. Furthermore, he also leads the Lakers in assists per game, with 8.1 assists. Accusations of James intentionally sitting out games also holds little weight, given that he has played around 2,217 minutes during the 2023-24 season, ranking third among the Lakers’ roster in playing time.

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Moreover, LeBron James is on pace to play the most regular season games since the 2017-18 season. These statistics indicate that LeBron isn’t deliberately skipping games. Nonetheless, he’s a victim of his own success, as fans have started to expect stellar performances from him in every game. However, it’s important to acknowledge that LeBron, at 39 years old, requires adequate rest to maintain peak performance levels. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below!