LeBron James’ championship window may never close

LeBron James could be competing for championships until the day he retires. What that means for the Cleveland Cavaliers, no one can say.

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: LeBron James is playing the best basketball of his career.

In fact, in Year 15 and his fourth season since returning to a city and franchise that adores him more than any other, James looks like a player who finally has every tool at his disposal.

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/25/2017.

It’s not hyperbole to say these numbers are the best of James’ career. Yes, the same James who averaged 27.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.1 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. The same James who is shooting 50.2 percent from the field and 34.3 percent from three for his career.

The most consistent megastar of our generation, who has been in 217 playoff games and averaged 28.4 points, 8.9 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.0 block per game while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 33.0 percent from three-point range.

This season, James is shooting a career-high 58.0 percent from the field, a career-high 42.2 percent from three-point range and averaging a career-high 1.2 blocks per game. James has only averaged more assists per game once in his career: last season.

James’ new and improved shooting stroke has much to do with his ability to dominate more thoroughly than ever before. Already one of the most cerebral and physically dominant players to ever grace an NBA court, The Chosen One has finally gotten a jump shot.

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 11/25/2017.

One that even Cleveland Cavaliers shooting guard Kyle Korver, who will retire as one of the greatest catch-and-shoot players in NBA history, can attest to that.

Quote transcribed by cleveland.com‘s Chris Fedor:

"“My man has worked his way into being a real shooter. Like, for real. He can really shoot,” Korver said. “His fundamentals, he has worked on it, in this last year that I’ve been here. His shot is really, really good.”"

So how do you defend a man who can run through you, past you, barrel over you, jump over you, shoot over you, make any pass and understands the game in the way only a select few can or ever have?

A man who seems to defy Father Time and avoid major injury every year?

Quite frankly,you can’t.

James has even taken to locking down the opposing team’s best player at the end of games, no matter what position they play.

With all the talk about James’ future and what he’s accomplished in the past it’s almost too easy for casual onlookers to overlook what The King is doing in the present. He, the best player in the world and the best player for a decade and maybe the best player ever, doesn’t just look better than ever.

He truly is better than ever.

So now, when NBA followers talk about James’ impending free agency decision or how the Cavs need to make the most of James’ championship window, all you need to say is “What window?”.

James’ body will slow down, one day, but even when it does he has the power, intelligence, skill and now the shooting ability, to still average 20+ points, 8+ rebounds and 8+ assists. It’s crazy to think but James might be the best player in the league until he’s 40, stretching his reign across nearly two decades.

You’d have to think that even if James has to play second-fiddle, so long as he’s still capable of being a dominant force in the league for a championship-contending team he’ll stay. He’s already alluded to a willingness to stay in the league until his eldest son, LeBron James Jr., makes it to the league. That will take at least another six years, with Jr. in the 7th grade.

James would be 39-years-old  at the time his oldest son got drafted. He’d be 41-years-old if he waited for his second son, Bryce Maximus James, to join them. While it’s entirely feasible that the health freak James will be physically capable of playing, will he be able to dominate?

He’d likely have to change positions by that point, becoming more of power forward. However, at power forward, he’d still have the speed advantage while retaining the passing ability and offensive awareness to establish and exploit mismatches. He’d be a Power Puppeteer.

Depending on the needs of the team, James could average more than 20 points per game (Michael Jordan averaged 20.0 points per game at 39-years-old but shot 44.5 percent from the field. James hasn’t shot below 45.0 percent from the field since his rookie season.

James’ ability to influence personnel decisions and focus on playing for team’s capable of competing for championships will likely allow him to be more successful than Jordan was in his final two seasons. Where Jordan tag-teamed with Richard Hamilton and then Jerry Stackhouse, two All-Stars, James will likely team up with one surefire Hall of as well as an All-Star, as he has for the past seven seasons.

Whether that keeps him in Cleveland, sees him cross state lines and to Philadelphia, or catching a flight to Los Angeles or San Antonio, nobody knows.

One thing is for sure though. Barring a personal or physical catastrophe, James’ championship window will never close.

Related Story: LeBron should be the early frontrunner for MVP

*Unless otherwise referenced, all stats gathered from www.basketball-reference.com