As head coach of the Golden State Warriors, Steve Kerr has become very familiar with LeBron James – who he believes is playing better than ever.
Steve Kerr and LeBron James have had many battles over the years. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors squared off in a record-breaking four-straight NBA Finals last decade, making Kerr painfully aware of everything that comes with playing against James.
However, it has been two years since the last time the Warriors tackled James in a playoff series. The King missed the postseason last year due to injuries while the Dubs narrowly lost the finals due to injuries of their own. Still reeling from an injury bug, the Warriors sat out of the playoffs this time while James has vaulted the Los Angeles Lakers to the NBA Finals.
James is now en route to his fourth championship and he is doing it against an interesting opponent. He won his first title in Miami and arguably had the best season of his career with the Heat. But, Kerr disagrees, thinking James is actually a better player now than he was all those years ago.
"“I think LeBron is actually a way better player now than he was six years ago when he played in Miami,” Kerr said. “It’s remarkable watching the offensive transformation since then, and his confidence in his shooting, and that’s what Miami has to deal with.” Via 97.5 The Game"
In year 17, James is reaching his pinnacle as a playmaker. He led the entire association in assists and is operating the offense at a level we haven’t seen before. It definitely helps to have Anthony Davis alongside him, his highest-scoring teammate to date.
In terms of shooting, James is actually having an off-year. He has connected on only 35.3 percent of his 3-point attempts in the playoffs, lower than two of his runs in Miami. However, he is making them on a higher volume than any of his previous seasons besides 2009 and 2017.
There is no doubt that his experience has come with advantages. James has played in 10 NBA Finals and his knowledge of the game continues to grow. He might not be a better athlete than he was in Miami – but he is harder to plan against as he finds new ways to beat you every night.