Grant Hill talks about LeBron James' unprecedented dominance: "The first day of practice, he had maybe 20 dunks"

Having finished his 21st NBA season, LeBron James has not shown any signs of slowing down. The 39-year-old is coming off a fantastic 2023-24 campaign as the Los Angeles Lakers' best player and is set to be a focal point for Team USA at the Paris Olympics.

As the managing director of Team USA, Grant Hill appreciates James' unprecedented longevity and the level of greatness he continues to display despite his age.

"LeBron has been fantastic from Day One. The first day of practice in Las Vegas, he had maybe 20 dunks in practice. He's 39-and-a-half years old, and he's dunking everything and probably showed up in the best shape," Hill said on The Dan Patrick Show. "He's been phenomenal, he's shown he has incredible will in his last two exhibition games, he has been a great leader, he's been a model citizen, and certainly a great ambassador for USA basketball and Team USA."

LeBron's longevity

Whenever fans discuss who the basketball GOAT is, one of the biggest arguments for LeBron is his longevity. He has been in the NBA since 2003 and is set to shatter Vince Carter's record for the longest run in the league.

James is still an elite offensive player. He can score at will using his body and has the basketball IQ of an elite playmaker. Over the years, The King also developed as a shooter, and outside of free throws, it's hard to find a flaw in his offensive arsenal.

LeBron continues to produce at a high level despite battling Father Time—he is coming off a season where he averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 8.3 assists. The Lakers superstar will look to do the same in Paris and lead Team USA to the Olympic gold as its (arguably) best player.

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From rivals to comrades

Hill and James faced each other on the court, but the former was no longer in his prime. When he was 39, Grant was one of the primary defenders against the Akron native, which ended in James outplaying him.

"I was not the LeBron stopper. I guarded him, but I don't know if I could say I shut him down," Hill said in his conversation with Dan Patrick. "What's great is we're now on the same team. The whole world has seen his greatness on display, but to watch him up close and personal, to see his consistency, to see his professionalism, to see his attitude, his leadership, it's even more impressive."

James and the rest of Team USA are looking to dominate the Olympics and redeem the country after the underwhelming FIBA World Cup run in 2023. LeBron is the squad's undisputed leader, and with the help of Stephen Curry, Anthony Edwards, and Kevin Durant, anything less than a gold medal would be a disappointment.

Related: "LeBron, Kobe, Tracy McGrady, and I" - Vince Carter sheds light on the greatest dunk contest that never happened