LeBron James' best quality continues to shine brightly in year 22 for Lakers

In the 22nd year of his legendary career, LeBron James may not be the best player on the planet anymore. However, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar looks much closer to that than a soon-to-be retiree on a nightly basis.

Granted, no one really knows just how close James is to calling it a career in the league. One would assume that day is close, and the all-time great has hinted at it in the past. However, the idea of James being able to play forever is not completely unreasonable.

There is one key aspect to LeBron's game that truly makes him ageless with every passing year. That would undoubtedly be his remarkable basketball IQ.

James continues to thrive, adapt, and give the Lakers his best

The malleability of James does not get enough credit. The 40-year-old has experienced a renaissance on the defensive end at an age where most basketball players are reminiscing about their glory days. It is what gave life to the Lakers' rise to contender status in the 2024-25 NBA season.

James is well aware of how important his basketball IQ has been for his career too. The 21-time All-Star made light of that on the season debut of his podcast, Mind the Game.

LeBron told Steve Nash, "[Luka Doncic and I can] play bully ball, but also have the the brain to be able to manipulate the game as well for the greater good. ... It's the reason why I've been able to do it at this level for as for as long as I've been able to."

In that sentiment, James was alluding to the impact his IQ has on his offensive game, and how it has allowed him to sustain an elite level. After the Lakers' dominant 126-99 thumping of the Oklahoma City Thunder on Sunday, James made it clear that same skill set extends defensively as well.

LeBron told the media, "I'm able to see a lot of plays before they happen because of my knowledge of the game. ... I understand that's my responsibility, to anchor the defense, and I'm happy to do that."

By his standards, James' performance was a relatively quiet one. The Lakers forward finished the afternoon with 19 points, seven assists, and one steal. However, his leadership was easy to spot on the defensive end, leading to the Lakers holding the Western Conference-leading Thunder under 100 points.

Los Angeles enjoyed a statement win against Oklahoma City. There were plenty of elements to that game which made it a standout performance for the Lakers. James' role in that contest, and the season overall, should not be overlooked.