LeBron’s Basic Averages Will Go Down
Father time stops for no one. Yes, LeBron is somehow defying all rational logic by continuing to dominate the league even after 15 seasons. Season 16 could very well be the time LeBron takes a dip. The last time he averaged less than 25 points a season was all the way back in his rookie year (20.9).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBR8ioKsYrQ
Last season he put up 27.5 PPG in a year where he was the lone offensive force in Cleveland. Los Angeles presents a very different situation where he’ll be able to cede responsibility to some of the veterans (Rondo, Stephenson, Beasley) and even the quality young talent (Ball, Ingram, Kuzma). Their depth should ease the load on James while also decreasing his overall scoring output.
His assist numbers will likely drop playing alongside a heap of ball-dominant guys and assist machines in Rondo and Ball. He may not average career lows in that area but it’ll likely drop to around the 7 per game range; averages that are similar to his early years in Cleveland playing alongside Kyrie Irving.
A dip in box score numbers won’t necessitate a bad season from The King as you’ll likely see a more supportive role in ways on offense. This could even allow him to increase his effectiveness from the field and his offensive game overall.
Next Up: Bold Prediction 1