Former NBA star Gilbert Arenas has spoken out against the double standard that fans hold when comparing LeBron James to Michael Jordan as a 40-year-old player. Arenas, who played alongside Jordan and competed against James during his career, expressed his frustration with the unrealistic expectations placed on James.
In a clip from his show shared on social media, Arenas debated with co-host Rashad McCants about the treatment of James and Jordan. He pointed out that when Jordan was in his 40s, fans were simply happy to see him on the court and didn’t expect him to perform at the level of a 20-year-old. However, Arenas criticized the current narrative surrounding James, where he is expected to win championships despite his age.
McCants, on the other hand, argued that given James’ resume and the team he plays for, winning championships is still the expectation regardless of his age. He even brought up the late Kobe Bryant, who warned James about the pressure of playing for a storied franchise like the Lakers.
Following the Lakers’ most recent NBA championship in 2020, the team has struggled to maintain their dominance in the league. Currently sitting sixth in the Western Conference standings with a record of 20-16, it appears unlikely that they will make a deep playoff run this season.
Despite the team’s struggles, LeBron James continues to showcase his skills on the court. In a recent game against the Dallas Mavericks, James made headlines with a powerful two-handed dunk over a much younger opponent. While the Lakers ultimately lost the game, James finished with an impressive stat line of 18 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists in 35 minutes of play.
Fans can expect to see more from James as the Lakers face off against the Charlotte Hornets at Crypto.com Arena. The debate over James’ performance at 40 years old continues to rage on, but one thing is clear ā James is proving that age is just a number when it comes to his basketball prowess.
