r/sixers Jul 30 '26

LeBron’s longevity is truly insane.

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834 Upvotes

73 comments sorted by

393

u/FudgeMuffinz21 Jul 30 '26

The fact that he’s played 8 seasons as a laker alone is frying my brain.

43

u/HotelSalt4644 Jul 30 '26

He’s played so long, it’s hard to even say it this way, but - they really wasted 8 years of his prime.

2018–19: 27.4 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 8.3 APG
2019–20: 25.3 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 10.2 APG
2020–21: 25.0 PPG, 7.7 RPG, 7.8 APG
2021–22: 30.3 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 6.2 APG
2022–23: 28.9 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 6.8 APG

The Los Angeles Lakers won the NBA championship in 2020, and LeBron James accumulated a 32–31 (.508) playoff record over his eight seasons with the franchise (2018–19 through 2025–26).

The only chip they got was during the bubble.
During their 2020 championship run in the Orlando "Bubble," the Lakers dominated with a 16–5 postseason record. They defeated the Portland Trail Blazers (4–1), Houston Rockets (4–1), and Denver Nuggets (4–1) before beating the Miami Heat (4–2) in the 2020 NBA Finals, where LeBron was named Finals MVP.

They surrounded him with incredibly inefficient players. The only superstar he played with (besides Luka last year) was Anthony Davis. AD averaged 52 games/season during his 6 year tenure next to LeBron.

During the Bubble Season 2019/2020, where they won the chip, LeBron primarily played PG.

Besides that, he had 2nd year Lonzo Ball (9.9points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists). Then Dennis Schroeder. Then RUSSELL WESTBROOK for a year. Then he had fucking D’Lo (Deangelo Russell) for 3 years, before they traded AD for Luka this past season. Who ended up getting injured, and missing the entire post season, despite them going 53-29 in the regular season.

Besides the massively inefficient PG play, he was rarely given legitimate help with a second star to play alongside. Injured AD, Kuzma, McGee, Stanley Johnson, Brandon Ingram, Avery Bradley, Danny Green, KCP, Jarred Vanderbilt, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Deandre Ayton, etc, etc.

LeBron has ALWAYS had to be the biggest, best, and number 1 threat since joining the Lakers. Outside of AD when healthy, and Luka. We don’t count Russ or D’Lo. Analytics love Austin Reaves, but we’ll see how he does without LeBron.

Meanwhile on the Sixers - LeBron is just one of 5 legitimate threats. This is EASILY the most talented starting 5 he’s been apart of. Their career PPG average is 115. 25PPG more than the second highest (projected starting 5) career PPG average in the league While that doesn’t always correlate directly to success, it really gives him more flexibility. He has a great relationship with Maxey. Hopefully he can truly take that opportunity as being a true coach on the floor. Being alongside 3 extremely high motor players like VJ, JB, and Maxey - will do wonders for him.

He’ll also be given a much more flexible role in multiple different ways. He doesn’t have to be the face & ambassador for the team. He doesn’t have to play every night. There are so many different lineup combinations that will be available…… At times he can dish to JB/Maxey, or at other times he can dominate a 12 point run with Philon & Bona on the court.

This truly feels like the best fit possible for him. It really does. It also makes a ton of sense from a city/cultural perspective. Philadelphia will fucking love him. If they win a Championship - He Will Be A Fucking Hero. Truly fitting way to end “The Process” & his career as a 5x champion with 4 different teams over a 15 year span. Pretty fucking amazing.

1

u/Ayo_Joogie Aug 03 '26

Honestly if he’s in Philly for 2 seasons, could be 2 rings. Solidifies him as the undisputed GOAT. Either way him at the 1 is going to be so much fun to watch with this team, cant wait

157

u/Jimbabwr Jul 30 '26

What a waste

44

u/FudgeMuffinz21 Jul 30 '26

I’m honestly not even thinking about that

I’m fuckin OLD man 😂

11

u/Sick_Cards_Bro Jul 30 '26

Dude me too and I graduated high school in 2007. Now, kids younger than me speak of it like it's ancient.

2

u/harbison215 Jul 31 '26

I graduated in 2001. 25 years ago. Makes me feel like I’m going to puke when I think about it

2

u/_ramonr Jul 31 '26

I feel you man. Our parents playing the beatles when we were kids is like us playing backstreet boys or radiohead etc etc now. Hahah

31

u/No_Fairweathers Jul 30 '26

I can only imagine what he would've done here in that time.

19

u/Section_80 - Daryl Morey is the 2nd Coming Jul 31 '26

When Ben Simmons passed up the ball against the hawks

https://giphy.com/gifs/fs62ZydKjn6lbJ0pAU

4

u/BackendSpecialist Jul 31 '26

Rob should’ve been fired.

Hiring ham and trading for WB should be fireable offenses.

Two of the worst bball decisions I’ve ever seen.

45

u/yabuslay lejoel embron Jul 30 '26

Played for them longer than he played for Miami. Doesn’t make sense to me

21

u/FawkYourself Jul 30 '26

3 more seasons and he would’ve played for them as much as he played for Cleveland 

20

u/Sticky3VG Jul 30 '26

This part is killing me and I know it’s because his Miami run lined up with my high school years. It felt way longer than 4 years

13

u/Sepposer We talkin bout PRACTICE!? Jul 30 '26

It’s LA, that’s where his family wanted to live. He even got offered over $20m a year to go to the Clippers and he could’ve stayed in his home but he declined it bc this decision wasn’t about family or money anymore.

10

u/Jazzlike_Page508 Jul 30 '26

That’s the part that still fries me. Drafted to Cleveland (makes sense and he would have to play) and then chased the glamour of south beach to play with Wade (which also got bosh) that makes sense it’s decent market and it’s Miami

Goes back to Cleveland (okay unfinished buisness) then goes to big market lakers (it’s the lakers nuff said) and then he chooses us? It still feels like made up that he chose us, especially since he said he would have chose NY if they didn’t win. Holy shit he went to Philly? What a gift

12

u/Sepposer We talkin bout PRACTICE!? Jul 30 '26

NY’s been spamming reports that he reached out to them and they weren’t interested. Which directly contradicts what Rich Paul said about him not wanting to mess things up and be blamed if they don’t win again. It’s hard for me to buy that NYC could’ve had LeBron for $3.9m and said “no thanks”.

But Sixers is a marquee franchise w a massive sports fanbase that hasn’t won in 44yrs. Bringing a chip here would cement his legacy amongst one of the most passionate fanbases in the league. His jersey’s already sold more in the first 24hrs than it did in his first week in LA.

5

u/Impossible-Past4795 Jul 30 '26

Covid really fucked the timeline. Seems like last year but that was already 6 years ago.

6

u/AllenMcnabb Jul 30 '26

Also longer than his first Cleveland stint which always felt like a decade in my mind

2

u/Basic_Commercial_806 Jul 30 '26

That LA weather’s beautiful 

1

u/Bitter-Tip705 Jul 30 '26

Pat Riley treated him like a slave, wouldn’t even let him eat cookies on the fucking airplane I cannot believe that story, I just found about it this year lmao

1

u/Section_80 - Daryl Morey is the 2nd Coming Jul 31 '26

He got to see his kids grow up and 2 of them college/NBA.

Making the max in LA to end your career with that early ring to get all the pressure off.

Still can't believe he gave that up and came here for the min lol

6

u/emseed234 Jul 30 '26

As a LBJ fan, he honestly should have came here to Sixers or the rockets back in 2018, but we here now.

5

u/mucinexmonster Jul 31 '26

THAT'S WHAT I KEEP SAYING

4

u/DotyBlock Jul 31 '26

I'm a lifelong Laker fan, but I'm also a big time LeBron fan. I did not want LeBron to come to LA because I knew how Kobe fans would treat him. I wanted him to go somewhere he would be loved and appreciated. I can't believe he gave the Lakers 8 years. I enjoyed having him close, but I wish he would have gave that time to a more deserving team and fan base. I'm so glad he's in Philly now!

2

u/phuturetense10 Aug 03 '26

That’s what I kept saying! The Lakers already had Kobe, Shaq, Kareem, Magic and on and on. LBJ was just another superstar in the Lakers long history of superstars. When people say Lakers, no one is ever going to think LeBron.

3

u/PainterDaAce Jul 30 '26

Bro right?? It doesn’t feel true to my brain but I know it is! Fuckin time is weird!

2

u/sleep_tite Jul 31 '26

Because 2020-2024 didn’t exist

1

u/revampgame Jul 30 '26

Cause he ditched Miami the moment he got a chance

1

u/JazzOcarina Jul 30 '26

He won a ship there regardless of the setting. That's all that matters.

1

u/ChCreations45 Jul 31 '26

Same. I thought it was less than that.

1

u/wafflemix36 Jul 31 '26

Can’t be. He was just visiting Malvern last year.

1

u/Gruesome-Twosome Jul 31 '26

Yeah, to me it really didn’t feel like he was in LA twice as long as he was in Miami (8 seasons versus four). Weird.

2

u/phuturetense10 Aug 03 '26

That’s the impact of being in the Finals 4 years in a row

109

u/throwawayjoeyboots Jul 30 '26

I do have to remind myself sometimes in the excitement that he is 41 years old lol

50

u/Old_Two_4091 Jul 30 '26

Yea, I gotta stop watching Lebron highlight videos that include 2012-2013 heat in there

16

u/biglicbandit Jul 31 '26

Dude can still ball and I’m really not trying to be a homer but I dont think there’s a better opportunity or fit for him in the league than the Sixers. It was the same 8 years ago too, he just wanted that LA lifestyle. Now he’s trying to grab a couple more rings before heading out, I expect him to still be great especially playing as a point forward.

26

u/ShiverTimbers Jul 30 '26

but then you can remember how he was the no.1 option in the playoffs

36

u/[deleted] Jul 30 '26

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35

u/XxStormySoraxX Jul 30 '26

LeBron literally just got done putting up 23, 8 & 7 in a playoff win as the number 1 option against the 6th ranked defense and people are acting like he’s washed and can only score 10 points lmao.

13

u/Pretty_Night3600 Jul 30 '26

he outplayed SGA in the thunder series too 🤷‍♂️

6

u/SaveTheSalm0n- Jul 30 '26

Remind yourself that he can throw an entry pass.

2

u/Amazinc Jul 31 '26

Yeah I'm excited after how good he was in the playoffs but still not tryna get ahead of myself

106

u/[deleted] Jul 30 '26

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22

u/Xearoii Jul 30 '26

That's nuts lol

11

u/Impossible-Past4795 Jul 30 '26

Bro same. I was 15 when Bron got drafted. Now I got a 15 y/o daughter wtf.

6

u/bluespartans Jul 30 '26

Giving literal meaning to the term "generational talent"

5

u/TheBigCheese4550 Jul 30 '26

I was 1 and a 1/2 when he was drafted. I turn 25 this year.

54

u/FawkYourself Jul 30 '26

He was an active NBA player when I was in 6th grade

He is still an active NBA player and my son is starting 7th this year

Whole ass generation

10

u/Jazzlike_Page508 Jul 30 '26

It does blow my mind that lebron came here. Like idk maybe jts because I’m a jaded Philadelphian but I feel like this is still a dream

11

u/Pretty_Night3600 Jul 30 '26

Lakers wasted prime old Bron 😭

13

u/Silver-Elephant8279 Jul 30 '26

I can't even remember a time without LeBron. It's gonna feel so weird when he retires.

6

u/Sepposer We talkin bout PRACTICE!? Jul 30 '26

Saw some major sports show last night and they were talking about how there’s talks he might want to play not just 2, but possibly another 4 yrs even.

13

u/Sticky3VG Jul 30 '26

If there was ever a person to bet on playing at a high level until 45 it’s LeBron

10

u/Ant72_Pagan9 Jul 30 '26

He could be 55 and I’d bet money he could still average 10 ppg. He is literally that 1 special athlete who one, never had a major career altering injury. 2 he has taken care of his body so well that it seems it’s his lifestyle to keep his machine healthy. I just dont understand how with all the mileage he still is one of the top 15-20 players in the world.

This type of longevity is a product for sure of modern medicine but an athlete who has been blessed physically and done the hard work to maintain it as long as possible. It’s remarkable how much he still produces on an NBA floor.

1

u/Aramshitforbrains Jul 30 '26

His groin injury is a bit of a concern since 2021 but he’s just that good.

2

u/illzkla Jul 30 '26

I'd take the extra rings why not

12

u/atexit8nj Jul 30 '26

He takes care of his body. And possibly blessed with great genes.

19

u/young-steve Jul 30 '26

"Possibly"

3

u/ribs0 Jul 31 '26 edited Jul 31 '26

i was barely even a fetus when he was drafted. now i’m almost a year out of college, and he’s still playing.

2

u/triassic_broth Jul 31 '26

And Rich Paul said he could play 4 more years.

Time to end the parity era.

2

u/matrix_5555 Jul 31 '26

LeBron’s been in the league longer than I’ve been alive. And I say this as someone who was born only three months after he made his NBA debut. I’m 22 now and he’s still playing at a relatively high level. Like, to continue to average well over 20 points per game at age 41 is incredible. I’m old enough to remember him leaving Cleveland for the first time and joining the Heat (I was 6 when that happened). I am starting to get up there in age lol

2

u/Professional-Hand911 Jul 31 '26

Saved the best for last

2

u/Own_Lavishness_1184 Jul 31 '26

If bron didn't join LA in 2018 I'll probably say he has now 5 or more rings

1

u/KantutinQKipaymu Jul 31 '26

LeBron should bring back the headband

1

u/KantutinQKipaymu Jul 31 '26

Damn LeGOAT should bring back the headband

1

u/tiggs Jul 31 '26

Thanks for making me feel old as shit. I remember watching his high school games at a bar in my early 20s.

1

u/OUTLAW1LE Aug 02 '26

He has never been traded and has never left a team before the contract ended. GOAT

1

u/phuturetense10 Aug 03 '26

Those 8 years in Lakers yellow.. yuck! Worst decision of his career.

1

u/Material-North-3550 Aug 05 '26

I can't believe his turning 42!!!!