Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has been recognized by former teammate Kevin Love as the smartest player he has played with. Love, now with the Utah Jazz, discussed James’ basketball intelligence during an appearance on “The Old Man And The Three” podcast.
“Easy LeBron. He knows every…he’s playing so much damn golf now that I don’t know if he knows everybody’s play. But he was the type of guy that could, you know, in shootaround or even out there on the floor he could do every team’s scout. He knew every team’s play, he knew every guy’s tendency, he watched an endless amount of basketball,” Love said.
James, who is currently 41 years old and remains active in the NBA, is often praised for his ability to anticipate plays and read opponents on the court. Teammate Jarred Vanderbilt also noted that James’ understanding of the game sets him apart from others in the league.
Head coach JJ Redick compared James’ late-career performance to that of MLB Hall of Famer Greg Maddux, highlighting how rare it is for athletes to maintain such a high level of production at this stage in their careers.
As the Lakers move through the second half of the 2025-26 season, they are positioned mid-table in the Western Conference standings. With James regaining form after missing games earlier in the season, his leadership and skill continue to be central to Los Angeles’ efforts.