It’s safe to say that more than half of the current NBA roster spent their childhood watching LeBron James own the Eastern Conference, witnessing that legendary run of eight straight NBA Finals appearances from 2011 to 2018 with Miami and Cleveland. The other half was either already in the league, entering during those years, or has since retired.
To put his staying power in perspective, fewer than 20 players from the 2010 draft class are still active. LeBron isn’t just an active player; he’s a living time capsule of the modern era.
Kendrick Perkins Thinks the New Generation Has Moved On From LeBron
You’d think being the oldest and most accomplished player in the league would make him the ultimate North Star for the “Gen Z” superstars, but former teammate Kendrick Perkins isn’t buying the hype.
During a recent segment, “Big Perk” threw a bit of cold water on the King’s influence: “A lot of these guys, these young stars and rising superstars, they don’t look up to LeBron anyway, they don’t idolize him.” According to Perkins, the new generation is leaning more toward the technical mastery of Kevin Durant or the late Kobe Bryant.
While it’s hard to ignore LeBron’s GOAT status, there is a certain logic to the comparison. Trying to “be like LeBron” is essentially impossible because his game has always been predicated on being a physical anomaly, a 250-pound freight train with the speed of a guard and a genius, level IQ.
It’s hard to model your game after a superhuman. On the flip side, the footwork of Kobe or the pure shooting mechanics of KD feel, at least theoretically, like something you can study and replicate in a gym. It doesn’t make reaching that level any easier, but the “blueprint” feels more accessible than LeBron’s raw, physical dominance.
LeBron, Luka, and the Lakers’ Plan to Silence the Critics
At this point in his career, critiques from media personalities, especially analysts like Perkins, likely rank very low on LeBron’s priority list. He has officially embraced the “Longevity GOAT” tag, and his eyes are strictly on the final sprint of the 2026 season.
The Lakers aren’t the same squad they were a few years ago; they are now a dangerous hybrid of experience and elite production. With league scoring leader Luka Doncic handling the heavy lifting and a surging Austin Reaves providing high-level secondary scoring, the Lakers have the veteran infrastructure to wreck anyone’s bracket come April.
If this trio can navigate the brutal Western Conference and stay healthy, LeBron might just get the last laugh. For a guy who has spent 23 years with a target on his back, a fifth ring would be the ultimate “I told you so” to those who claim the youth have stopped paying attention.
Read the full article here
