In an interview with Brandon ‘B Scoop’ Robinson, Michael Cooper drew parallels between LeBron James entering his 22nd NBA season and Magic Johnson ’s return to the league in the 1995-96 season following his HIV diagnosis. The five-time NBA Champ emphasized that although both these legends may not possess the same physical prowess they once did at their peak, their game acumen remains so formidable that even at this late stage of their careers, it allowed them to have an edge over their opponent.
"Magic when he came back from retirement," Cooper said . "LeBron still has athleticism but is not at the level we’re used to seeing. But he still has the knowledge and smarts."
Is there any similarity between King James now and ‘95-96 Magic?
Cooper’s observation regarding the shared hunger of Johnson and James to enhance their resumes even in the latter stages of their careers, as well as their ability to exceed expectations, appears to be well-founded. When the three-time MVP returned to play for the LA Lakers in ‘the 95-96 season, he may have featured in merely 32 games and shot at a career-worst field goal rate of 46.6%, but he still managed to log 14.6 points and 6.9 assists per game; all at the age of 36.
Now LeBron evidently possesses more residual vitality than Magic did at a comparable stage, as he continues to pursue another championship after leading the Lakers in both scoring (25.7 PPG) and assists (8.3 APG) at the age of 39. Moreover, the 20-time All-Star is expected to be amongst the top 2 players on the Purple and Gold in the 2024-25 campaign.
So, while James, too, might no longer be as explosive and athletic as he once was during his days playing for the Miami Heat, like Magic, he has also altered his game effectively well to be counted amongst the most lethal and impactful players in the game even this late in his career.
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LeBron still has the knack to prove he’s the best
On another note, as harsh as it may sound, Magic never possessed the talent at 36 to rank among the top-performing players of that season, and the same cannot be said for Michael Jordan, who returned to the NBA to play for the Washington Wizards at 38. Although he couldn’t lead the team to the playoffs, he still averaged 21.2 points and 1.5 steals per game during his two-year stint.
Now, with LeBron potentially averaging better numbers than Jordan, even at 40, while playing for a team expected to contend for the championship in the West, it highlights not only his similarities to MJ in terms of having the same determination to stay among the best but also emphasizes how fans should appreciate King James’ extraordinary longevity even more.
Safe to say, if James manages to lead the Purple and Gold to an unexpected result in year 22, there’s no doubt that his GOAT candidature may reach unparalleled heights, where comparisons to such all-time greats might seem ordinary.
Related: Richard Jefferson shares why LeBron should get more respect for his impact and longevity: "It also shows how smarter he is than everybody else"
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