Despite flirting with the idea of retirement, NBA star LeBron James will return for his 21st season with the LA Lakers, where he has been since 2018.
The 38-year-old small forward/power forward will be looking to win his fifth NBA Championship title after being swept away by the eventual winners last year, the Denver Nuggets, in the latter stages of the playoffs.
The question being asked here is, what should we expect from LeBron James going into the new season? Let’s take a closer look and find out.
Is LeBron James way past his best?
Many people will agree that LeBron James is way past his best, but even in the twilight of his career, he is still one of the best players in the NBA. He is still able to help his team win matches by scoring plenty of points and getting the all-important assists and rebounds.
He will also be looking to break even more records with the Lakers when the new season gets underway in October 2023. Although some people feel it’s time for him to step aside, others still feel he has at least two more seasons at the top left, which is an incredible feat, especially for someone who is close to approaching 40.
Where can I bet on upcoming NBA games?
The first game of the season for the LA Lakers is on October 25th against the Denver Nuggets, and many of today’s online bookmakers that are most trusted, such as the red 32 sport betting site (better known as 32red), are already taking bets for the opening matches.
The Lakers play in the Western Conference of the Pacific Division, and they are currently priced at 3/1 to win the Pacific Division and 7/1 to win the Western Conference. This means they have a 25.00% implied probability rate of winning the Pacific Division and a 12.50% implied probability rate of winning the Western Conference.
What are the Lakers’ chances of winning the NBA Championship 2023/24 outright with LeBron James?
To win the NBA Championship 2023/24 outright, the odds aren’t looking as good for the Lakers. They are currently only the seventh odds-on favourites to win. Let’s take a closer look at the odds:
Interesting facts about LeBron James
LeBron James will go down in history as one of the greatest basketball players ever. Here are some interesting facts that help back up that claim. He is a four-time NBA Champion and four-time winner of the NBA MVP Finals award.
He had two spells playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers (2003 to 2010) and again from 2014 to 2018. In between playing for the Cavaliers, he also played for the Miami Heat (2010 to 2014). In February 2023, LeBron James (aka King James) surpassed the previous record-holder, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, as the league’s highest-ever point scorer.
He is 6 ft 9 in tall (2.06 metres) and was born in December 1984. Some of his other top accolades throughout his impressive career are 4X NBA MVP awards, 19X NBA All-Star, and AP Athlete of the Decade, to name a few. He also won the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year award on three separate occasions (2012, 2016, and 2020).
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
