LeBron James turns the big 3-0 today and I highly recommend you read this Bleacher Report interview with James about turning 30 and how he sees his game now and his future.
When asked about how his game is different now then when he was a 20 year old, he talked about how his game has changed 3 or 4 times since then and how he’s more of a “complete, cerebral, basketball IQ guy now.”
“You know, when I was 20 years old, I really just played the game. I was very smart then, too. I had a huge basketball IQ even when I was younger. But the experience that I’ve gained over the years has given me even more of a thinking game. I kind of think the game more than I play it now. And I just let what I do here in practices just take care of itself.”
In honor of his birthday, let’s look back at the games he’s played on his birthday starting with this 2009 game when he turned 25 and dropped 48 points and 10 rebounds against the Hawks. If that wasn’t a good enough gift for LeBron, Shaq dropped $400k on a Rolls Royce for the King.
2 years later, LeBron scored 34 against the TWolves on his 27 birthday and connected with Wade on a game-winning oop.
Here’s how he did on his other birthday games – which didn’t go so well for LeBron during his first few years.
- 19 years old, Cavs Lose to Pacers: 22pts, 10rebs, 4asts
- 22 years old, Cavs Lose to Bulls: 33pts, 9rebs, 3asts
- 24 years old, Cavs Lose to Heat: 38pts, 2rebs, 7asts
- 29 years old, Heat Beat Nuggets: 26pts, 6rebs, 10asts