LeBron on Slawson’s block: “I chose not to risk it”
LeBron James gets blocked by Slawson, but a deliberate decision explains the play. And age has something to do with it
Even LeBron James has learned that sometimes it’s better to pass up a spectacular dunk than risk an injury. Especially when you’re over 40 with more than two decades in the NBA behind you.
On an episode of Mind the Game, the Philadelphia 76ers star revisited a play from the October 28 matchup against the Indiana Pacers, when Jalen Slawson blocked him from behind on a fast break.
The play drew plenty of attention. Seeing LeBron on the receiving end of that kind of block is striking, considering how often he has done it to opponents.
James explained, however, that there was a specific reason behind his decision: avoiding potentially dangerous contact.
When you’re young, you don’t worry about landing on someone’s foot, even with several players in the paint. But when you start getting older – or much older, in my case – your thinking changes
LeBron James
LeBron saw Slawson closing at full speed and, instead of going for a dunk, opted to lay the ball off the glass. It was a more cautious choice, but it wasn’t enough to avoid the Pacers player’s block.
With age, it isn’t just explosiveness and leaping ability that change, but also how a player assesses certain situations. A dunk in traffic can deliver two points and perhaps an and-one opportunity, but it also carries the risk of an awkward landing.
And at this stage of his career, LeBron knows how costly even a minor physical setback can be.