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Entering his 23rd NBA season, LeBron James is a known quantity. He has made the All-NBA team for 21 consecutive seasons and is likely to do so again this year.
This means LeBron is always, at worst, a top 10 NBA player.
So, given that baseline of excellence and how deep he is into his career, what can LeBron even get better at?
Well, he has an answer for us and it involves his 3-point shot.
“I spent a lot of time on my catch-and-shoot 3-pointers…” LeBron said at media day. “Understanding how can I make the most of when I don’t have the ball, either moving into space. Obviously, Luka and AR going to do a lot of time handling the ball…We have a lot of guys that can handle the ball, so how can I still be effective on a team where I don’t have to handle the ball as much?”
LeBron’s ability to adapt and evolve is a big reason why he’s stayed in this game for so long.
When the NBA first began tracking catch-and-shoot threes back in the 2013-14 season, James was taking just 1.6 attempts on these shots. Now, he’s nearly doubled that and is shooting them at a respectable rate.
Last season, LeBron averaged 2.9 catch-and-shoot 3-pointers and converted on 42% of those baskets. After the trade for Luka Dončić, his attempts on catch-and-shoot threes went up to 3.3. His percentage on these takes also improved to 43.8%.
If he can continue to increase his attempts on these types of deep shots and raise his percentage, it’ll make LeBron an even bigger threat from the outside and give Luka another shooter to look for.
Scoring on these catch-and-three takes not only gives the Lakers points, but it also allows James to make baskets without dealing with the physicality required to get to the paint.
At 40 years old, LeBron being off the ball and taking jumpers is precisely what you want to see more of. By knocking those shots down, it’ll open up the floor and create even more spacing for the rest of the team, which can also make driving to the basket even easier.
With Luka now being the clear future of the Lakers and often playing as the primary ball handler, it makes sense that LeBron is looking for ways to capitalize on his off-ball opportunities.
Early on, LeBron has discussed his excitement regarding playing with Luka. The chatter has been more about how James can complement him rather than the opposite.
The transition of power from James to Dončić appears smooth and peaceful, and LeBron’s embrace of this kind of shot is another example of this.
You can follow Edwin on Twitter at @ECreates88 or on Bluesky at @ecreates88.bsky.social.
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