The game has gone through multiple eras since LeBron James entered in 2003. From being a hardcore defensive league to now shooting, many struggled to adapt. But looking at the King, he has not only managed to stay in incredible physical condition but also bent his game to be ultra-productive at age 39. Yet, old habits still die hard. Ask Marcus Smart, a competitor with more than 30 games against the Akron Hammer.

Smart first saw him in his rookie season in 2014. Back then, LeBron James could still jump out of the gym and use his overpowering engine to bully opponents. But that was nearly a decade ago. Just two days ago, James dropped a 35-point triple-double on Smart and the Grizzlies, which included four triples. Smart may have noticed a slight drop in his athleticism, but his sentiment remains the same.

The former DPOY is still as astounded by James’ abilities as he was in 2014!

“You know I talked to Marcus Smart after the game and Smart obviously had to spend a lot of time on LeBron. He was like he used to just be a freight train. Getting to the rim. Nothing you could do to stop it. He said, ‘he still kind of is a freight train, but he is a freight train with all this skill’. He is a drastically improved shooter in his late 30s. He is still an insanely high IQ player. That is never going to change,” Tim MacMahon revealed the conversation on The Hoop Collective.

Ja Morant, however, didn’t have the same amount of remorse. After he beat the Lakers in the first clash of the season, the sizzling point guard openly said he didn’t like the Purple and Gold. However, his back and forth with LeBron James came because of the respect he holds for the 22-season vet. He feels James is a “Top dawg in our league. You take out the top dawg, who else you fear?”

But just how has James changed his game to remain impactful only months away from turning 40?

LeBron James is slowly turning toward being technical

The first glimpse of a durable superstar can be argued to be Michael Jordan. He wasn’t exactly as dynamic as James. However, around this age, he began to master the fundamentals when he couldn’t replicate ‘Air Jordan’ anymore. That meant more post-ups and mid-range shooting to generate his offense.

LeBron James is following in his footsteps in a way.

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A younger LeBron posed the threat of running through the defense. His combination of speed and explosiveness couldn’t be stopped by devising tactics. However, approaching 40, James can’t spring the same. To balance that, he’s developed his game at the perimeter.

Currently, LeBron James is shooting a blistering 45.9% from three, a comfortable career high. Additionally, he has polished his jump shot to become the fulcrum of his game. In his first season five seasons with the Lakers, James never shot over 40% on jumpers. However, this year, the mark is at 45.3%, a staggering improvement from his prototype playstyle when he first came to LA.

Aside from him altering his game, staying in great physical shape has immensely helped. LeBron James spends a lot of time on recovery to ensure his body never fails to match his performance standards. Without the willingness to bend to his methods, King James may have never survived 22 years in the NBA. That’s one of the most beautiful parts of his game. It flows ever so freely.