As players age, their statistics naturally regress. Some of the first stats normally to take a hit is the rate in which players get to the free throw line, as well as the defensive stats. LeBron James is unique in the level at which he is playing, approaching his 39th birthday in about a week. He’s also unique in the fact he has moved up in the lineup positional as he’s age. It’s given him greater opportunities around the rim to to score efficiently around the rim, block opportunities, or to dunk or get fouled. We’ve not seen the typical eroding of athletic indicating stats as of yet. Remarkably, his current PER of 25.3 is 39 years old is better than last year and 4 of his previous seasons. It is very similar to PER’s he post at the age of 26 years old (27.3 PER) and 30 years old (25.9) as well.
Free Throw Rate
Overall, statistically players like LeBron can learn new ways to play and be effective, but there is one stat that most haven’t been able to maintain. The stat that seems to stand out above all others, even with LeBron in the aging process, is the rate at which a player is getting to the free-throw line. Across the board nearly all players see their free throw rate drop as they age, even LeBron. Especially those that rely on athleticism or were highly athletic with high free throw rates and that are not post players. A few post players or crafty players did figure ways to draw fouls like Karl Malone. This makes sense as well as highly athletic players playing outside of the post and experienced players gain advantages and the defense has to foul.
All players can become better as they gain experience and craft. Players are highly athletic when they are 18-24 with it peaking around 24, but the intersection of know-how. The great mix of athletic ability and know-how and knowing when to attack meet. Players still know how but we can see exactly when the athletic part of the equation takes the hit.
Players can find ways to hang with their younger self in some areas, but free throw rate is the canary in the coal mine on athleticism.
LeBron Per 100
Age
Free Throw Att Per 100
2009-10
25
13.7
2007-08
23
13.6
2008-09
24
13.5
2005-06
21
12.9
2006-07
22
11.6
2011-12
27
11.4
2010-11
26
11.4
2014-15
30
11.0
2013-14
29
10.6
2004-05
20
10.0
2018-19
34
10.0
2012-13
28
9.8
2016-17
32
9.5
2015-16
31
9.3
2017-18
33
8.6
2020-21
36
8.2
2023-24
39
8.1
2022-23
38
7.9
2003-4
19
7.8
2019-20
35
7.8
2021-22
37
7.7
A stat you would think correlated more with athleticism like steals, blocks or even dunking for example are far more varied.
LeBron
Age
Minutes
Dunks
rate
2016-17
32
2794
145
19.3
2012-13
28
2877
144
20.0
2013-14
29
2902
134
21.7
2011-12
27
2326
104
22.4
2018-19
34
1937
85
22.8
2008-09
24
3054
128
23.9
2015-16
31
2709
111
24.4
2021-22
37
2084
85
24.5
2017-18
33
3026
120
25.2
2009-10
25
2966
117
25.4
2022-23
38
1954
74
26.4
2004-05
20
3388
126
26.9
2023-24
39
711
26
27.3
2007-08
23
3027
109
27.8
2014-15
30
2493
88
28.3
2019-20
35
2316
79
29.3
2005-06
21
3361
114
29.5
2006-07
22
3190
108
29.5
2010-11
26
3063
98
31.3
2020-21
36
1504
48
31.3
2003-04
19
3122
91
34.3
Perhaps you could attribute some of this to less usage but that usually goes hand in hand. Also many of these players were still high usage when the free throw rates evaporated.
LeBron’s Usage
24
33.8
21
33.6
23
33.5
25
33.5
38
33.3
30
32.3
37
32.3
27
32
36
31.9
33
31.6
34
31.6
26
31.5
35
31.5
31
31.4
22
31
29
31
28
30.2
32
30
20
29.7
39
29.7
19
28.2
As you can see LeBron has always maintained a similar usage. Even last season was his 5th highest usage of his career.
It’s an interesting resume, and you can see where his Free Throw Rate has dropped significantly as he’s aged. Every other athletic stat falls closer to the middle of his career averages.
