LeBron James Overruled Darvin Ham to Defend Kawhi Leonard

Even in his pro basketball dotage, All-NBA Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James can still be an impressive two-way force when properly motivated. The 6-foot-9 superstar remains an elite offensive talent in 2023-24 for the 40-32 Lakers, but he hasn’t been able to muster up the All-Defensive tenacity that made him such a formidable force on that floor every night in his Miami Heat-era prime.

Let’s talk about the offense for a second. In 62 games, James is averaging 25.4 points on .530/.406/.751 shooting splits, 8.1 assists, and 7.2 rebounds. His scoring efficiency from the floor is up both generally and from deep. If he keeps up this long range conversion rate, it’ll be tied with his 2012-13 title-winning Heat stint as his best percentage ever, albeit on two more attempts a night (5.3).

But he was happy to defend another future Hall of Fame forward who’s been a Finals MVP for multiple franchises earlier this season. James helped the Lakers storm back from a 21-point fourth quarter deficit on February 28, singlehandedly outdueling the Clippers in the frame on offense, 19-16. That output included five threes. He also stepped up on defense, draping himself all over Clippers All-Star Kawhi Leonard, like it was the 2013 and ’14 Spurs-Heat NBA Finals all over again.

During today’s episode of their essential, very hoops-nerdy podcast “Mind The Game,” James unpacked the choice to elevate on defense for the contest with cohost (and former Clippers shooting guard) J.J. Redick. His decision to do so essentially went against the defensive prep of head coach Darvin Ham.

“We had switching built in versus Kawhi and versus James [Harden] and whatever the case may be, and I vetoed it in the second half,” James said. “Because I know T-Lue more than any other player that’s been with T-Lue, and I know he plays target ball too. It got to a point, in order for us to get back into the game, switching anybody onto Kawhi is not favorable for us. So I might as well get ready for the Wizards. So I vetoed it.”

When challenged by Redick as to whether or not he could handle elite defensive coverages game in and game out at his age (he’s 39, and playing in his 21st NBA season), James was candid.

“At 39, with… I think I have like 70,000 minutes [he has 67,929 combined regular season and postseason minutes], I was explaining to my wife the other day, she asked me how am I feeling when I came home after the game. I said, ‘Babe, just imagine buying a 2003 Escalade and it’s 2024 and you’ve never changed the tires. So rub my feet please,'” James chuckled. “And I’ve never changed the tires. These are the same tires from 2003. So can I do it every night? I don’t want to say I can do it for a whole game. I mean, I’ll take the challenge, for sure, but that’s just [because] I’m a competitor, I was born that way, I was taught that way. I’ll die on the court because I just love it so much. Am I being realistic? I’ve got to pick my spots. Definitely got to pick my spots.”