CHARLOTTE — 43 points. 11 rebounds. Six assists. Year 20.
With the Lakers in town Monday night, the 19,000-plus in attendance got to see what we've become accustomed to seeing from LeBron James over the past 20 years: basketball brilliance, sheer dominance, and the greatest show that the league has to offer. And given the amount of talent currently in the league, that's saying something.
The LeBron James Experience, however, is truly unlike anything else because it extends well beyond the 48 minutes of regulated game time.
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The moment that doors opened at the Spectrum Center, fans piled in by the hundreds to catch their first glimpse of LeBron. A little over an hour before tip-off, there was an unmistakable air of anticipation in the crowd as he made his way to the court to work out.
Neon Monday. #VoteLakers ⭐️ https://t.co/zX32W36Jej pic.twitter.com/Jpd9ev6aCz
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 2, 2023
Flanked by former teammate and current Lakers assistant Damon Jones, LeBron emerged from the tunnel to the roar of a crowd that would soon be mystified by stationary shooting, post-up drills and a relatively tame alley-oop finish to conclude the workout. While LeBron's in-ear headphones would keep him from hearing the crowd's urges to "go for 50" and predictions that "Bron gonna go off tonight," it was clear that he was aware that all eyes were on him. It's been that way for over 20 years now.
Once that was established, the stage was set for the rest of the evening's proceedings.
Less than an hour later, LeBron returned to the floor with his team for pre-game warmups, sporting a gold pair of LeBron 20s with the handwritten message "The Man In The Arena," one of the go-to phrases on his sneakers and a reference to this very applicable speech from Theodore Roosevelt.
As if the initial roars from the now thousands on hand weren't enough, LeBron's dead sprint from the tunnel to the opposite end of the floor drew another round of cheers from the purple and gold contingent in attendance, while fans young and old had their phones out for a chance to grab a lasting document of the show that they were on hand to see.
Say what you want, but there's something admirable about LeBron's showmanship. It's one thing to elicit "oohs" and "ahhs," but it's another to completely command a crowd.
It could be as simple as drawing a reaction with a few shrugs after an and-one finish:
Making plays 👑 pic.twitter.com/W4jV0FhlFb
— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) January 3, 2023
Or the new-ish signature "I'm insane" celebration after a set of moves to set up a transition finish.
The crowd was locked into each and every one of James' moves, so it should come as no surprise that the loudest pops from those in attendance came following each of James' in-game alley-oop finishes, the second of which was far from "tame."
AUSTIN REAVES LOBS IT TO LEBRON 🔨
— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2023
📲 https://t.co/1pomQZMAZK pic.twitter.com/CamWnfL7kX
OH MY GOODNESS LEBRON 🤯
— NBA (@NBA) January 3, 2023
HE'S GOT A 30 PIECE IN CHARLOTTE
📲 https://t.co/1pomQZMAZK pic.twitter.com/sOAfRCZfVK
Growing up around the league afforded me the opportunity to see some of the game's all-time icons in action — from Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal to Allen Iverson to Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant and many many years prior, Michael Jordan.
And while I may have been far too young to take it all in (and camera phones weren't even thought of yet), Jordan's visits to Charlotte during the 1998 NBA Playoffs are the only thing that I can recall being even remotely comparable to LeBron in Year 20. I liken it to an actor on stage — they know the audience is watching, but they remain in character to present the best show there is.
MORE: Where LeBron ranks among the NBA's best players this season
Whether it's Charlotte's Spectrum Center, Madison Square Garden or Crypto.com Arena, fans are left with no doubt that they're watching the best show money can buy when LeBron steps in as The Man in the Arena.
While we've wondered how much longer LeBron could sustain this high level of play for years now, he's scored 90 points in the two games since turning 38. In his 20th season.
He may not be able to do this forever but for now, just enjoy the show. It's one unlike any other.
