LeBron James is in his 24th season, still playing at 41 years old, and he’s leaving his Philadelphia 76ers teammates absolutely speechless. Sixers power forward Dean Wade just told reporters that James’ basketball IQ is “otherworldly,” calling it something he’s never seen before and that “it doesn’t feel real.”
The 41-Year-Old Brain That Breaks Basketball
Wade, who spent his first eight seasons with the Cleveland Cavaliers and never got to play with James until now, couldn’t stop raving. He said he’s “never met a person that has a higher basketball IQ” than LeBron. Imagine that, after all these years, the man is still shocking guys who play at the highest level! Wade highlighted how James “can sniff out a play before they even get set,” calling it “unbelievable.” It’s not just about scoring for the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, either. Wade praised James as an “unbelievable teammate” and an “unselfish player,” marveling at the passes he makes and the things he sees on the court. It’s clear James has outpaced Father Time by changing his game, adapting to fit his teammates, opponents, and the entire league as he’s gotten older.
Sniffing Out Plays Before They Even Start
Need an example of this “otherworldly” intelligence? Wade had one from early in the season, during James’ first game with the Sixers. A team, which Wade thinks was the Knicks, came out of a timeout. James was standing there as they lined up, and as soon as they set, he immediately called out, “Oh, it’s backside! It’s backside!” The team ran their play, and LeBron called out “every action of the play” before it even happened. That’s insane, knowing the opposition’s moves before they even execute them, just by their alignment. It shows how his contributions are so much deeper than what you see in a box score.
A Madhouse Return and an 8-1 Start
The Sixers, thanks in no small part to these kinds of contributions, are off to a scorching 8-1 start to the season. Now, James is heading back to his home state of Ohio to face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night at Rocket Arena. Wade expects the atmosphere to be absolutely “raucous,” just like every other time James has returned to Cleveland. “In my seven years here, anytime that LeBron came back it was just a madhouse,” Wade recounted. “It was crazy. The fans were awesome. So I expect that is what tonight’s going to be like.” Get ready for a wild one as LeBron brings his unprecedented basketball genius back home, looking to keep that 8-1 record rolling.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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