LeBron James isn't usually associated with good defense since he doesn't really exert effort on defense. However, people forget that the Los Angeles Lakers forward is a force to be reckoned with on both sides of the games.
NBA cheerfully reminded fans and haters why LBJ is one of the best to ever lace them up in a recent tweet.
Congrats to @KingJames of the @Lakers for moving up to 14th on the all-time steals list! #LakeShow pic.twitter.com/Lz5wJQWypi
— NBA (@NBA) November 24, 2019
You read it right: LeBron James is only a couple of steals away from matching Allen Iverson's record. A forward who doesn't participate in defense that often is now closing in on the top ten.
Article Continues BelowFans have always known since LeBron came into the league that he'd be one of the best defenders if he ever tried. However, he spent a significant amount of his career taking the brunt of the offensive load for his teams, so his numbers on defense took a hit.
He did show them highlights every now and then, though. He made the occasional chase-down block every now and then. The most iconic play of the 2016 Finals was his emphatic rejection against Andre Iguodala. He also has the court vision and basketball IQ to hawk passing lanes and strip ball handlers of the ball.
The King's numbers have dipped a bit compared to his peak years. He's currently averaging 24.9 points, 7.7 rebounds, 11.3 assists, and 1.3 steals a night. However, the fact that he's getting these numbers at 34 is absurd.
The Lakers are heavy favorites to win the title, and LeBron's offensive and defensive skills are going to be important for their title chase.