LeBron James' edict of making the Los Angeles Lakers a defensive powerhouse has been no joke. Unlike many preseason proclamations that soon drown out in the first weeks of the regular season, James has led by example with some defensive tenacity and “contagious” hustle plays.
It was never more evident than in Sunday's win over the Los Angeles Clippers when James was taking charges, lunging on the floor for loose balls, and contesting jump shots until the last whistle.
Now the elder statesman of a well-versed Lakers team, James has taken to leading by example with his effort, and his teammates have taken notice:
“He didn't get rewarded for those plays, but for me, that didn't go unnoticed,” Lakers backup point guard Rajon Rondo told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. “He tried to take a charge. Then he's down on the court getting the loose ball.
“When you got the oldest guy on the team doing that, everybody else is going to follow. The plays he makes are contagious.”
James has been a leader of men for most of his NBA career, but it has been a while since he has done it for a full season as a defensive stalwart.
The 35-year-old attacked the rim tenaciously in the last few minutes of regulation, buried his free throws, dimed a few of his teammates, and unmistakably made the biggest defensive plays down the stretch. That has not only inspired a Lakers team that ranks third-best in the NBA but also carved up a new dimension that many thought was long gone in his game.
James might not be chase-down blocking players on the fast break or wrestling away rebounds as much as he used to in his younger days, but he is making the right plays that have shown a contagious commitment to defense.
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