Players should expect their ESPN ranking to improve when they perform well in the regular season, postseason, and, in some instances, offseason.
A Los Angeles Lakers phenom and future Hall of Famer checked off all three boxes, earning him a higher spot on ESPN’s list this year.
“The best basketball players in the world descended on Paris this offseason to compete in the Summer Olympics, vying for the gold medal and national pride,” ESPN’s Dave McMenamin wrote Thursday. “When it was all said and done, (LeBron) James won the third gold medal of his career and was named tournament MVP — another win in his unrelenting battle against Father Time.”
“Anyone who watched him spark a second-half comeback against Serbia by guarding Nikola Jokic on one end and attacking the hoop on the other was reminded exactly who LeBron is when the chips are down. And the fact that he put up 25.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists in his 21st season while becoming the first player in history to top 40,000 career points again reaffirmed his elite level in the game at 39 years old.”
James entered the 2023-24 season as the No. 9 ranked player in the NBA, but his brilliant play helped him rise to No. 7.
In addition to nearly averaging a triple-double and shooting 41% from downtown during the regular season, James was a bright spot for the Lakers in the playoffs. The forceful freight train and versatile forward netted 27.8 points, recorded 8.8 assists, and grabbed 6.8 rebounds against the Denver Nuggets in the postseason.
The Lakers ultimately fell to the Nuggets in five games, but the 20-time All-Star was all over the floor for Los Angeles in the series.
In the summer, James guided Team USA to their fifth consecutive gold medal during the Olympics, averaging 14.2 points, 10.2 assists, and 8.2 rebounds per contest.
Steph Curry‘s three-point barrage stole the show against France in the gold medal contest, but James was responsible for several timely baskets and individual defensive stops throughout the tournament.
There may be looming questions surrounding the Lakers going into the 2024-25 campaign, but James can undoubtedly be relied on for high-level production all season long.
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