Sunday’s All-Star Game showcased a lot of refreshing things. The East versus West battle turned into a match-up of two captains leading handpicked teammates, the players looked like they care about winning the game, and effort was finally shown defensively.
Another new, however — which likely won’t please his detractors — is LeBron James capturing the MVP honor. The Cleveland Cavaliers superstar scored a game-high 29 points, 10 rebounds, and eight assists, en route to winning the award for the third time in his career after a 10-year gap.
It may be a bit hard to believe, but yes, you read that right. James last won it in 2008, when he was still fresh-off turning 23 years old.
A whole lot has changed in the NBA during that time frame. The tempo of the game has sped up, 3-point shooting has become much integral, dozens of stars have risen, and freakish athleticism has become present even in big men.
What’s more interesting, though, is an observation that Reddit user Jeff8123 pointed out in the NBA subreddit:
“Only 4 out of the 29 All Stars were in the league when Lebron James last won an All Star MVP
Lebron’s last All Star MVP was 10 seasons ago in the 2007-08 season.
The 4 all stars who were in the league at that time were:
Kevin Durant (drafted 2007)
LaMarcus Aldridge (drafted 2006)
Kyle Lowry (drafted 2006)
Al Horford (drafted 2007)”
Such a fact, along with earning 14-consecutive All-Star game starts, greatly highlights the longevity that James has had. The 33-year-old is still performing like he’s in his mid-20s, and one can only wonder how long the Cavs star can keep it up.