Thank you Tommy John for sponsoring this video. Click here bit.ly/tommyjohn_brianmd2 to try Tommy John and get 25% off plus free shipping within the US on orders over $75 when you use my code BRIANMD2
I remember thinking when Lebron returned to Cleveland that it would be the final stretch of his career. Seeing him play at the highest level 5 years beyond that really surprised me.
Considering he returned in 14/15 and he's still a high level player (def top 20 and just made an all-NBA team), it's not just 5 years but 8. Incredible.
@@calamorta Not top 20. top 10. The man averages 26 7 and 7 in his sleep still on really good efficiency, no one has his IQ. He steps it up in the playoffs at almost 40 is crazy. Jordan nor Kareem never did anything close to this
@@elijahpadilla2094 your comment has nothing to do with my comment. I'm talking about level of play. Just because you win finals mvp doesn't mean Kareems level play is even close to lebron. Kareem was averaging like 15 and 9 at 38 and I'm being generous. Kareem was not on the level of 38 year old lebron. The stats back that up the advanced analytics and the eye test as well. Kareem didn't age as well as lebron
I love how we need an orthopedic doctor to make a 12 minute UA-cam video to explain how a 38 year old just MAYBE won't have a few more years left at a very high level in the freaking NBA. That's how insane LeBron's longevity is. Father Time may be undefeated, but LeBron has given him the toughest fight ever.
I'd have to say Kareem's longevity is still higher right now. He played 20 years after a full high school and college career. 🤔 We'll see how long Bron goes, tho. I hope he's not done.
"Father Time may be undefeated, but LeBron has given him the toughest fight ever." oh man, this. i am still not ready for his retirement man but maybe if it's finally there, all i gotta do is accept
@jjmalaprop9968: This is disappointing to watch as a sports fan, but it's true. Unfortunately, it's also accurate for all of us, which for me means diligence to the best of my ability and budget in exercising and diet.
It's weird that we are talking about a 38 year old in his 20th season who scored 40 points, averaged 24/10/8 (or something like that) while clearly not 100%, but it's LbJ and the standards are so high that anything less than historic performances will seem like the downfall. Just to be clear: I am making a general statement about the narrative since game 4, not your medical assessment, Dr Sutterer.
The thing is this: he can’t be the best player on the team, if he is he can’t get win it all because his best game makes other players less than themselves.
when he's talking about the healing process being hindered by age, totally makes sense why Lebron always talks about getting more sleep. his young body could probably work off 6-8 hours of sleep just fine, but in his older age it takes a lot more sleep to properly recover from a 30-45 minute game. what he does on court is very impressive, but I've always looked up to his prep/mindset as what sets him apart from the great majority of players, and the biggest reason for his longevity/consistency. not to mention he properly balances all that with being a husband/father. just a very, *very* well rounded human being
it's clear that age has caught up with him. in game 4, he put up 31 points in the first half. and in the second, only 9. dude was gassed. he can no longer take over a game completely like he could years ago
@@justinepaul5473 His physicality is beginning to go, but that's not where the thinking about retirement has come from, it's from the needs mentally for be that guy for 20 years.
I hope the end NEVER comes for our man Dr Brian. He is the 🐐 of sports injury videos and a genuinely great person too. May He continue to soar and become bigger than he ever imagined on YT ❤
As a long time lebron fan, the drop in athleticism is CRAZY. we’re talking about he went from being able to dunk from the free throw line in game with air to spare to missing EASY alley-oops. The way he Changed his game is truly amazing over his long career. 🐐🐐🐐
Guessing you're nowhere near 38? 😆 It happens, around this age you can still be in incredible shape but bursts of athleticism just aren't there like they used to be
he was hurt. and he rolled his ankle game 2 against denver. obviously hes not as athletic as 25 year old lebron but he was looking above average prior to the foot injury. tbh if you're a team relying on a 39 year old to play 40+ minutes in the playoffs and be the primary contributor that's a team issue not LeBron.
A lot of the changes we saw in the playoffs were due to his injuries not just natural decline. Getting that sorted out in the off season would help with his explosiveness, but he is definitely in a different place in his career going forward.
In my humble opinion , it's not just age related. It's the amount of games and punishment that his body has encountered over the years . Two decades. George Foreman fought until he was almost 47. Larry Holmes fought until he was 52. And yet they were much better than most boxers that were in their 20s. The amount of games and the years one plays , could also have a significant impact.
In terms of punishment taken like you said, you have to remember that George Foreman retired for a full decade. Larry Holmes fought sporadically during the last decade-plus of his career.
@@DoubleOhTheG I get what you're saying, But remember , there's an immense difference between boxing and basketball, when it comes overall health of athletes. In one boxing match, a boxer receives blows to the head, kidneys, liver, face, abdomen etc.......... Each blow to the head pose immense risk of developing CTE, or brain damage. And also remember boxers also spar , and they also get hit during sparring sessions. I wouldn't compare risks that come with boxing to basketball. Two different sports. A boxer could lose his or her life at any given night during a match. George foreman had total of 81 professional fights, and Larry Holmes had 75. Even Though they had fought sporadically, but the blows they had received to the head, and body, on average in a single fight, is FAR MORE DANGEROUS and no comparison to a basketball player that has played 20 plus years. Look at James Toney today, how he talks ( CTE). Tommy Hearns, and many others.
Lebron is playing with his long term health. He doesn’t see himself at 50? Would he like to not be able to walk without pain, with knees or hips prosthesis, or lumbar spine conditions?
Also growing up a lifelong Peyton Manning fan, I'm always shocked by how little acclaim he gets in the sports world. I think you're spot on with his last few years after the neck injury affecting public perception. I believe he is the most intelligent and greatest quarterback to ever play.
Even Lil Wayne would refer to him as the greatest! He would rap off the dome... And he would say " Peyton Manning flow I just go no huddle!" PM was a general on the field.... The way he'd switch plays on the fly and call out the oops plays😮 GOAT
Word! I'm getting on in years and was lucky enough to see him play quite a bit at UT (thanks to my friend's family's season tix). He's easily one of the greatest of all time!
I agree with you. Peyton, from about his second year on, was special. For the first handful of seasons, Brady was a bus driver+. The NE defense was the primary reason they won. Then, as the years went by, Brady started to play like Manning was already playing. For Peyton Manning to go to Denver, after getting injured and having a ton of surgeries, then break Dan Marino's TD record, was astounding. He wasn't close to 100% at ANY TIME WHILE IN DENVER. Peyton is the GOAT.
Yeah, I think a lot of us were expecting more from Day to Day. He was supposed to be better than what he is. LeBron should not have to score 40 points in a game. Anthony Davis should.
Look I'm not going to bag on AD. I think he's their best player when he's out on the floor. Yes he had injury issues, but he also showed up in a big way for most of the playoffs he's played with the Lakers. I think their bigger problem is not knowing how to run a team with an aging LeBron. He really should not be ball handler anymore, because he and the rest of the team become stagnant. Lakers should focus on the following role for LeBron: - More 3 point shooting (practice in the offseason, get back to Miami Bron) - More off-ball movement - More creating plays from the elbow or low post, like Jokic - Not averaging more than about 30 minutes per game so he has some energy to move off the ball And the keys of the kingdom have to be handed to AD and the young players on their team. The team was at their best up through the Warriors series because every role player was a key piece and had the confidence to carry the torch. From that last game against the Warriors, where LeBron controlled the game to perfection, the Lakers reverted back to a LeBron-centric offense that completely eroded the touches and confidence of a lot of the role players. LeBron wants to give them the green light, but doesn't know how to. The answer is to allow the ball to be in their hands for the majority of possessions.
This is a clear example of how all of us are on a slippery slope. Its just a matter of how slow or fast do you go down the slope. Lebron being this resilient and his longevity is unmatched. For someone who puts heavy minutes, puts his body on both sides of the court. It is really something.
It’s a story as old as the game, any game. Guys stay mentally sharp but the body just won’t do what it used to. Whenever he does retire he’s solidified his greatness
It’s amazing what Bron did this season at age 38. For comparison’s sake, Jordan was 38 in his first year with the Wizards and Kobe retired at 37. 🤯 Hoping Bron can go for two more years, but we really do need to adjust our expectations for him at this age. PS Thanks for the breakdown Doc! Great work!
@@chironjo Kobe didn’t have anywhere close to the miles Lebron has, and Kobe missed many many games from 2012 till retirement.. at a younger age than Lebron too
Lebron has been dominating the league the entirety of my human experience thus far and to see him struggle with injuries now just hurts the little kid in me that watched him growing up. But it’s inevitable that he was gonna fall off the mountain and come back to earth with the rest of us.
It keeps going. First your childhood idols become washed up and retire, then athletes YOUR AGE start getting washed up and retire, then athletes YOUNGER than you get washed up and retire. Then one or two of those childhood idols die and you're like, WTF.
@@OSUCarol It was an emotional response to a brutal playoff exit. Just like Giannis when he made his "failure" speech. He's not retiring any time soon.
His lowest scoring season was 2019 with 1500. He haven't had surgery yet. He work out more than anyone. Once he take a break and have surgery he gonna miss playing basketball and be back. The lakers gonna be a 50+ win team by next playoff. he gonna have a better year than last year.
He’ll get 40k points easily. The ring? Very unlikely, unless this Laker team clicks like crazy this training camp and makes the most magical run to the Finals ever. If that happened, Lebron has to be the undisputed goat. I sure hope it happens
That old saying Father Time is undefeated. I’m a Jordan fan but I give my respect to Lebron🫡 even if he calls it quits, he gave 20 years in the league and broke records.
It's actually crazy how much of a decline occurs between the ages of 30 and 40 especially if you aren't really diligent with your fitness. Of course it's way more noticeable at the edges of human athletic capacity like in professional sports, but still lamentable.
he's been such a central driving force of the overall narrative of the NBA for so long, kind of hard to imagine what the league will look like after he retires
As someone who has watched Bron since he was 7, all I've known is a healthy dominant great LeBron. As I've grown and I've seen my favorite athletes retire regardless of the sport. Lebron is the last one who up until now has fought off father time. He is a machine. If he would retire today. I'll always remember the chase down block against Iggy in the finals (I was at the Q watching it with the city) and the parade after I was first in line. I don't want him to have a Manning, Kobe, ending. If he retires I'll be sad a part of our lives is over. But I'd rather him leave with something in the tank rather than on empty and broken suspension and cracked wheels.
Unparalleled videos and discussion. Nothing close to it (that I've seen) and you output has often been soooo fast, during a game, with incredibly high production value to accompany the fantastic medical dissemination. Always impressed.
The crazy thing is that he is still among the most productive players in the league, even with the nagging injuries. If the Lakers can contend (they probably need another piece or two) he will be back. But contending is one thing, actually winning a title is another, and Denver, among other teams, is going to be in the way for a while. Hard to see him getting another championship, and I really think that is all he wants at this point. He has all the money and every personal achievement there is to get.
@Cal Watch You’re not a real fan bud. We won a championship with no home court. That was probably a harder championship to win than any other circumstance.
2018 in lakers was the first time that I thought Father Time started to knock on lebron's door, and he ignored it defiantly. 4 years later, father time still knocking on his doors and lebron was still trying to ignore him but the more he ignores it, the more he's banging on his door and calling him. How long is bron gonna hold on before he accept father time, no one knows so im just here, just enjoying his few years left in the NBA..
If I were LeBron, I'd just take an 80% pay cut and sign on as a veteran role player on a stacked team and play that way until I was 44, focusing on 18 mins of high IQ passing and defense. And then retire with 2 more rings or so. To hell with "might tarnish how people remember me" stuff.
I don't wanna be that guy but Peyton broke numerous NFL single season records and was the peak version of himself in Denver. It was only the last second that he began to decline. In that season, he won the Superbowl. Hard to say that's a storyline that takes away from his career. I think that's the Colts fan in you wishing he'd never formed a new legacy with a new franchise. Which is understandable.
This really felt like his last best chance, heartbreaking to see that mavs injury and how it hampered him down the stretch. His run to breaking Kareem’s record was unreal - hopefully one of the next two yrs he’ll be able to save it up for the postseason and make one last run
It was really weird in a press conference where the word retirement was never used that it turned into some ulterior conspiracy by him to manipulate the media when we've seen him miss all these games since joining the Lakers. This is also why load management might not be the devil that it's made out to be. Most of these guys are legitimately injured and are just trying to play through it. The most underrated accomplishment that he's had in his career is that he's avoided the catastrophic injury IMO.
As an MD myself, I have always heard malleolus pronounced as “mal-EE-O-lus,” not “muh-LAY-lus.” Yet I intrinsically trust your pronunciation and assume I’ve been wrong this whole time 😂
I think if these superstars want to extend their careers they need to take lower minutes and a lower contract so that there is enough salary cap to get stars that can take the load. Being able to play NBA basketball with or against your son would be a real accomplishment too. I think LeBron could still give 24-36 minutes of great play, and maybe even 12-24 minutes of legendary play, but asking him to play 36-48 is insane at his age.
No one can play that long putting that much wear and tear on the body thinking it will never have any problems is crazy, if he keeps playing at that level the next injury is going to be career ending.
From the U.K (HEAT Fan) it is insane that someone his age is playing, still one of the best and not just dropping off into a mentor role on the team like most "senior" players do in the English Premier League (if they take the time to learn a new playstyle and skills to compliment it). But the body can only take so much before it quits before you're mentally willing to. I feel that Basketball now is squeezing every second out of the players because of the high tempo. Scores just keep getting higher and higher. No chance to rest. But LeBron never dropped off or fell too far away from being relevant.
I hated to see this happen to Roger Federer. I’m hating seeing it to Rafa Nadal, and we are seeing it with Lebron. The end is near guys.. We have been lucky for the last 20 years.
Hey doc, can you do a video on Mikey Musumeci vs Gantumur Bayanduuren?! (BJJ) It was hands down the most damage I've ever seen to someone's leg in a sport. Would love to know your thoughts on what was most likely going on in the competitors brain at the time and how much pain Gantumur was in but still refused to tap. As always love your vids
Watching a super-human performance for 15+ years was fun. Disheartening to watch the greats come down to mere mortal athletic abilities. Thanks for the fact based discussion. If I am LBJ, I heal up my body over the next year so I can spend a full season playing 20 minutes a game alongside my son. That is worth more the $97 million (when you are already a billionaire).
Was only listening to the video instead of watching so when you said Tommy John changed your life, I was like wth how is Tommy John surgery a good thing lol
Lebron needs to trust his teammates at the ultimate level… sit on the bench and only come in for appropriate minutes like 32 min/game so he can be more rested and productive.
I like this guy but I feel like it has always been people like this that make lebron want to retire earlier. Why can’t we just motivate him to play as long as possible and just accept when the time comes that he does retire…
Ive had turf toe before from working a physically demanding job. I felt like i could "crunch" my foot just to make it feel better. Not a nice feeling at all
I'm a WWE fan: and watching guys like: HBK, Undertaker, Triple H, SCSA, Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio, Ric Flair, Kane, etc taking very noticeable steps back-- because their bodies couldn't hold up anymore-- was kinda hard to watch. LeBron should take Jordan's route, by stepping away for a year; and then, return for 1 or 2 year push (to hoop with his son).
I agree with you about not wanting to see our favorite players play when can clearly see they lost a step or two. . I saw a Laker game live, right after Kobe recovered from that achilles rupture. I didn’t like watching Kobe playing knowing that he was no longer the same Kobe 😕
In case Lebron still plays, he should not play more than 30mins. But the problem is, the expectation from him on contract point of view which is a staggering $40m+. The wiser choice is if he prioritizes his health and just retire and maybe come back the season when Bronny will be drafted and hopefully had a farewell season.
🤯 I absolutely love the game plan doc just laid out. Bron, you gave us 20 AMAZING years, we can give you 1 back for a full year of recovery to see you then come back and play with Bronny for 1 or 2 years. Best player play I’ve heard yet.
LeBron is still very good for his age and will probably play until he's 40 and then retire. So he's got about 2 more years and fans need to appreciate him while they can.
Great video, Dr. Sutterer! We appreciate the engaging anatomy discussion plus bringing real-life insight to young sports fans. Thanks again from your fans in HB!
He is 38, the fact that he can do what he does for 60 games is insane. I imagine that he is talking about retirement to put pressure on the Lakers so that they don't stand pat and accept this team as their status quo. If he is going to play, he wants a team that can beat the Nuggets. If he can no longer compete for chips, he can easily retire and comeback healthy to play a year with his son if he wants to. With the team Cleveland has built, what would stop them from taking Bronny too early, getting Lebron on a cheap contract, and winning a championship? Either way, having watched his career--his 25 straight against Detroit, absolutely throttling my Bulls live in the ECF, his insane performances both by himself and then winning the chip two years in a row against GSW--has been an absolute joy. If he hung it up now he owes us nothing. Everything else is just icing.
If he’d be ok as a 4th or 5th or coming off the bench for 10-12 points a night, he could play until 45. I’m not sure he’d want to do that, but the way he’s taken care of himself, he could.
9:40 wait Manning won and lost super bowls while in Denver? His throwing ball wasn't what it was when younger but he still got the job done. And, I'm a Dallas fan.
Those teams had a top 3 defense, and a top 5 running game. Payton was basically Trent Dilfer there. Convert a few third downs, don't throw a pick. Ta da
True. Peyton spent 4 years here in Denver, had three great seasons and one mediocre one. Even in 2015, despute not getting a lot of touchdowns, he still managed to march down the field to set us up for plenty of crucial field goals.
if you are avg 29p 8r 7a on 50%fg in the reg. season and drop 40p 10r 9a 2a on 75%ts in your last game (elimination game) vs champions, you are fine for a few years
It's crazy the expectations we bestow upon a player like LeBron James. We need doctors reminding and confirming to us that he is indeed human after all. People who love him and hate him alike still expect him to be the best in every game he plays, every series, every time he's on the floor.
I just wanna point this out for everyone. People seem to think lebron played at a lower level than usual this season compared to past season due to age and fatigue and all that BS. That's simply not true. Before the foot injury he was easily a top 5 player in the NBA. LeBron, when healthy, is still a top 5 guy. The problem is he's getting injured more and more often which results in him not being able to play at 100% as seen in the playoffs.
That’s the thing about how Kobe retired 60 points gave it his all and had nothing left to give at the final buzzer. I know lebron will play less and less but he has played TWENTY YEARS and say what you want about him even if he limps across the finish line.. he’s been a model of consistency in the NBA. I think he gives it one last run
Not surprising. 20 years is a long time for feet to slap against hardwood. Some people might think certain things are infinite, but human endurance definitely isn’t. Bones, tendons and tissues can only take so much.
Thank you Tommy John for sponsoring this video. Click here bit.ly/tommyjohn_brianmd2 to try Tommy John and get 25% off plus free shipping within the US on orders over $75 when you use my code BRIANMD2
BRIAN! i have an orthopoedic referral for possible impingement following muscle ups what kind of ins do you accept lmk in the comments omg thanks
Hey Brian, can you do a video on Malcom Brogdan’s torn ligament in his forearm and explain how it effects his shooting? Thanks!
Cap nice shout out
CAN U DO MICHAEL SOROKA IF THE ATLANTA BRAVES HE'S SET TO START HIS FIRST GAME SINCE 2020 FROM ACHILEES
Do a video on Brian mone injury
I remember thinking when Lebron returned to Cleveland that it would be the final stretch of his career. Seeing him play at the highest level 5 years beyond that really surprised me.
Considering he returned in 14/15 and he's still a high level player (def top 20 and just made an all-NBA team), it's not just 5 years but 8. Incredible.
@@calamorta Not top 20. top 10. The man averages 26 7 and 7 in his sleep still on really good efficiency, no one has his IQ. He steps it up in the playoffs at almost 40 is crazy. Jordan nor Kareem never did anything close to this
@@chazbustos6790 Kareem won FMVP at 38
@@elijahpadilla2094 your comment has nothing to do with my comment. I'm talking about level of play. Just because you win finals mvp doesn't mean Kareems level play is even close to lebron. Kareem was averaging like 15 and 9 at 38 and I'm being generous. Kareem was not on the level of 38 year old lebron. The stats back that up the advanced analytics and the eye test as well. Kareem didn't age as well as lebron
HGH is a powerful drug…
I love how we need an orthopedic doctor to make a 12 minute UA-cam video to explain how a 38 year old just MAYBE won't have a few more years left at a very high level in the freaking NBA. That's how insane LeBron's longevity is.
Father Time may be undefeated, but LeBron has given him the toughest fight ever.
I wish someone explained aging to Pelinka
I'd have to say Kareem's longevity is still higher right now. He played 20 years after a full high school and college career. 🤔 We'll see how long Bron goes, tho. I hope he's not done.
"Father Time may be undefeated, but LeBron has given him the toughest fight ever." oh man, this.
i am still not ready for his retirement man but maybe if it's finally there, all i gotta do is accept
because he plays in a era that allows it.
Nah tom brady
Father Time is undefeated
Literally is
@jjmalaprop9968: This is disappointing to watch as a sports fan, but it's true. Unfortunately, it's also accurate for all of us, which for me means diligence to the best of my ability and budget in exercising and diet.
But could he beat the 95-96 Chicago Bulls? 😂
LeFather Time
Haha correct, you can’t defeat Father Time all you can do is try to get out of its way.
It's weird that we are talking about a 38 year old in his 20th season who scored 40 points, averaged 24/10/8 (or something like that) while clearly not 100%, but it's LbJ and the standards are so high that anything less than historic performances will seem like the downfall. Just to be clear: I am making a general statement about the narrative since game 4, not your medical assessment, Dr Sutterer.
The thing is this: he can’t be the best player on the team, if he is he can’t get win it all because his best game makes other players less than themselves.
when he's talking about the healing process being hindered by age, totally makes sense why Lebron always talks about getting more sleep. his young body could probably work off 6-8 hours of sleep just fine, but in his older age it takes a lot more sleep to properly recover from a 30-45 minute game. what he does on court is very impressive, but I've always looked up to his prep/mindset as what sets him apart from the great majority of players, and the biggest reason for his longevity/consistency.
not to mention he properly balances all that with being a husband/father. just a very, *very* well rounded human being
@@Hero-3 how does he make others worse? He routinely gets everyone he plays with paid much more then they are worth.
@@Hero-3 you’re beyond lost…Can’t believe there’s still people who think like you in 20223. Jesus Christ.
it's clear that age has caught up with him. in game 4, he put up 31 points in the first half. and in the second, only 9. dude was gassed. he can no longer take over a game completely like he could years ago
The postgame comments made me realize I’m not ready for his retirement 😢
Everyone is not ready for that 😢
@@justinepaul5473 His physicality is beginning to go, but that's not where the thinking about retirement has come from, it's from the needs mentally for be that guy for 20 years.
beta-male
Pfft don’t speak for everyone because a lot of people and the media d rides the man and Lebron fan boys are annoying
@@phightinphil25 you people don’t care about the man’s health. This is what makes you silly
I hope the end NEVER comes for our man Dr Brian. He is the 🐐 of sports injury videos and a genuinely great person too. May He continue to soar and become bigger than he ever imagined on YT ❤
Ohh his time is also inevitable. Far as I know, farther time is the MVP.
Maybe our man Brian will be the real Doctor Emmitt Brown and discover a way to turn back time never know lol :)
😂😂😂😂 the flop maybe 😂😂😂😂
As a long time lebron fan, the drop in athleticism is CRAZY. we’re talking about he went from being able to dunk from the free throw line in game with air to spare to missing EASY alley-oops. The way he Changed his game is truly amazing over his long career. 🐐🐐🐐
Guessing you're nowhere near 38? 😆 It happens, around this age you can still be in incredible shape but bursts of athleticism just aren't there like they used to be
Dude was still one of the best players on the court competing against people in their mid 20s lmao INSANE.
How did he change the game??
he was hurt. and he rolled his ankle game 2 against denver. obviously hes not as athletic as 25 year old lebron but he was looking above average prior to the foot injury. tbh if you're a team relying on a 39 year old to play 40+ minutes in the playoffs and be the primary contributor that's a team issue not LeBron.
A lot of the changes we saw in the playoffs were due to his injuries not just natural decline. Getting that sorted out in the off season would help with his explosiveness, but he is definitely in a different place in his career going forward.
In my humble opinion , it's not just age related. It's the amount of games and punishment that his body has encountered over the years . Two decades. George Foreman fought until he was almost 47. Larry Holmes fought until he was 52. And yet they were much better than most boxers that were in their 20s. The amount of games and the years one plays , could also have a significant impact.
In terms of punishment taken like you said, you have to remember that George Foreman retired for a full decade. Larry Holmes fought sporadically during the last decade-plus of his career.
if we add the post season games that Lebron has played to the 20 regular season it adds up to 23 regular season
@@DoubleOhTheG I get what you're saying, But remember , there's an immense difference between boxing and basketball, when it comes overall health of athletes. In one boxing match, a boxer receives blows to the head, kidneys, liver, face, abdomen etc.......... Each blow to the head pose immense risk of developing CTE, or brain damage. And also remember boxers also spar , and they also get hit during sparring sessions. I wouldn't compare risks that come with boxing to basketball. Two different sports. A boxer could lose his or her life at any given night during a match. George foreman had total of 81 professional fights, and Larry Holmes had 75. Even Though they had fought sporadically, but the blows they had received to the head, and body, on average in a single fight, is FAR MORE DANGEROUS and no comparison to a basketball player that has played 20 plus years. Look at James Toney today, how he talks ( CTE). Tommy Hearns, and many others.
Lebron is playing with his long term health. He doesn’t see himself at 50? Would he like to not be able to walk without pain, with knees or hips prosthesis, or lumbar spine conditions?
@@bonifacioandres6312 that is a fun fact.
Also growing up a lifelong Peyton Manning fan, I'm always shocked by how little acclaim he gets in the sports world. I think you're spot on with his last few years after the neck injury affecting public perception. I believe he is the most intelligent and greatest quarterback to ever play.
Even Lil Wayne would refer to him as the greatest! He would rap off the dome... And he would say " Peyton Manning flow I just go no huddle!" PM was a general on the field.... The way he'd switch plays on the fly and call out the oops plays😮 GOAT
The Payton/Colts and Warner/Rams were the best offenses to watch.
The problem for Manning is that his biggest rival for greatness played in the same era and same conference; namely Tom Brady.
Word! I'm getting on in years and was lucky enough to see him play quite a bit at UT (thanks to my friend's family's season tix). He's easily one of the greatest of all time!
I agree with you. Peyton, from about his second year on, was special. For the first handful of seasons, Brady was a bus driver+. The NE defense was the primary reason they won. Then, as the years went by, Brady started to play like Manning was already playing. For Peyton Manning to go to Denver, after getting injured and having a ton of surgeries, then break Dan Marino's TD record, was astounding. He wasn't close to 100% at ANY TIME WHILE IN DENVER. Peyton is the GOAT.
It always was the plan. The problem occured when they placed future hopes on AD, aka Half man, Half a season.
Yeah, I think a lot of us were expecting more from Day to Day. He was supposed to be better than what he is. LeBron should not have to score 40 points in a game. Anthony Davis should.
@@Kikibrat2 bron has been trying to give him the keys for the last 3 years n he just doesn’t take them
@@Kikibrat2 AD’s prime was mostly in his last 2 seasons in New Orleans and his first 2 in L.A. the decline happened quickly
Look I'm not going to bag on AD. I think he's their best player when he's out on the floor. Yes he had injury issues, but he also showed up in a big way for most of the playoffs he's played with the Lakers.
I think their bigger problem is not knowing how to run a team with an aging LeBron. He really should not be ball handler anymore, because he and the rest of the team become stagnant. Lakers should focus on the following role for LeBron:
- More 3 point shooting (practice in the offseason, get back to Miami Bron)
- More off-ball movement
- More creating plays from the elbow or low post, like Jokic
- Not averaging more than about 30 minutes per game so he has some energy to move off the ball
And the keys of the kingdom have to be handed to AD and the young players on their team. The team was at their best up through the Warriors series because every role player was a key piece and had the confidence to carry the torch. From that last game against the Warriors, where LeBron controlled the game to perfection, the Lakers reverted back to a LeBron-centric offense that completely eroded the touches and confidence of a lot of the role players. LeBron wants to give them the green light, but doesn't know how to. The answer is to allow the ball to be in their hands for the majority of possessions.
@@randobrando4414 Lebron wanted A.D. to play monster for 3 qrts and he steal the fourth quarter and the attention.
At my age (49) I feel like I'm going to rupture both achillies every time I go for a slow jog. ☹
Well you’re not a pro athlete who constantly works on there Body
I’m a relatively fit 54-year-old. My body started breaking down at 49. Lots & lots of lower limb running-related injuries.
This is a clear example of how all of us are on a slippery slope. Its just a matter of how slow or fast do you go down the slope. Lebron being this resilient and his longevity is unmatched. For someone who puts heavy minutes, puts his body on both sides of the court. It is really something.
The Era allows him to. We're going to see this more.
@@BatmanISTheGamewe will never see another like Lebron. Just stop.
@@veritasaequitas1722 Idk why you're being bias towards LeBron for? I just literally said players playing longer smh
@@BatmanISTheGame the game is more about spacing and explosive movements than ever before, how does that help longevity?
@@Dopeykid666 It doesnt dude just wants to hate the current era
It’s a story as old as the game, any game. Guys stay mentally sharp but the body just won’t do what it used to. Whenever he does retire he’s solidified his greatness
It’s amazing what Bron did this season at age 38. For comparison’s sake, Jordan was 38 in his first year with the Wizards and Kobe retired at 37. 🤯 Hoping Bron can go for two more years, but we really do need to adjust our expectations for him at this age. PS Thanks for the breakdown Doc! Great work!
You're wrong about mj, the first season on the warriors he turned 39.
That's equal to Lebron next season.
In his 37/38yo Jordan was still retired
@@robesch88 yeah and jordan was nothing to Lebron lol
Kobe’s body was slowly breaking since he was like 32. And he played through injuries and no load mgmt bullshit.
@@chironjo Kobe didn’t have anywhere close to the miles Lebron has, and Kobe missed many many games from 2012 till retirement.. at a younger age than Lebron too
@@mikemarc92
As I said, let's see how next year was. Mj had no AD to save his ass. Lebron without ad missed the playoffs at 34yo.
Lebron has been dominating the league the entirety of my human experience thus far and to see him struggle with injuries now just hurts the little kid in me that watched him growing up. But it’s inevitable that he was gonna fall off the mountain and come back to earth with the rest of us.
Lebron never dominated the league he got dominated by golden state
It keeps going. First your childhood idols become washed up and retire, then athletes YOUR AGE start getting washed up and retire, then athletes YOUNGER than you get washed up and retire. Then one or two of those childhood idols die and you're like, WTF.
You're still a kid. It'll be OK
@@knutthompson7879 q1
@@37hiddensecrets the team the blew a 3-1 lead to him ? Stop it you sound dumb
I'd love to see him get one more ring, somehow, and 40,000 points. One more year... 🙏
He wants to play with his son so 2 more years
@@kingballerofficial yeah, I know he'd been saying that. The change in tone was pretty abrupt, but who knows.
@@OSUCarol It was an emotional response to a brutal playoff exit. Just like Giannis when he made his "failure" speech. He's not retiring any time soon.
His lowest scoring season was 2019 with 1500. He haven't had surgery yet. He work out more than anyone. Once he take a break and have surgery he gonna miss playing basketball and be back. The lakers gonna be a 50+ win team by next playoff. he gonna have a better year than last year.
He’ll get 40k points easily. The ring? Very unlikely, unless this Laker team clicks like crazy this training camp and makes the most magical run to the Finals ever. If that happened, Lebron has to be the undisputed goat. I sure hope it happens
That old saying Father Time is undefeated. I’m a Jordan fan but I give my respect to Lebron🫡 even if he calls it quits, he gave 20 years in the league and broke records.
It's actually crazy how much of a decline occurs between the ages of 30 and 40 especially if you aren't really diligent with your fitness. Of course it's way more noticeable at the edges of human athletic capacity like in professional sports, but still lamentable.
Gta use it or lose it.
Barry Bonds at age 40 was the baseball GOAT.
Not everyone gets worse with age. Bonds was incredible up to age 42.
@@alexfigura1871yeah "supplements" help with that.
Thanks LBJ!
he's been such a central driving force of the overall narrative of the NBA for so long, kind of hard to imagine what the league will look like after he retires
As someone who has watched Bron since he was 7, all I've known is a healthy dominant great LeBron. As I've grown and I've seen my favorite athletes retire regardless of the sport. Lebron is the last one who up until now has fought off father time. He is a machine. If he would retire today. I'll always remember the chase down block against Iggy in the finals (I was at the Q watching it with the city) and the parade after I was first in line. I don't want him to have a Manning, Kobe, ending. If he retires I'll be sad a part of our lives is over. But I'd rather him leave with something in the tank rather than on empty and broken suspension and cracked wheels.
Unparalleled videos and discussion. Nothing close to it (that I've seen) and you output has often been soooo fast, during a game, with incredibly high production value to accompany the fantastic medical dissemination. Always impressed.
Thank you!!
The crazy thing is that he is still among the most productive players in the league, even with the nagging injuries. If the Lakers can contend (they probably need another piece or two) he will be back. But contending is one thing, actually winning a title is another, and Denver, among other teams, is going to be in the way for a while. Hard to see him getting another championship, and I really think that is all he wants at this point. He has all the money and every personal achievement there is to get.
@Cal Watch And a Championship. Almost every other fan base would kill for that.
@Cal Watch I promise every other team would have loved to have it. You are spoiled
@Cal Watch You’re not a real fan bud. We won a championship with no home court. That was probably a harder championship to win than any other circumstance.
2018 in lakers was the first time that I thought Father Time started to knock on lebron's door, and he ignored it defiantly. 4 years later, father time still knocking on his doors and lebron was still trying to ignore him but the more he ignores it, the more he's banging on his door and calling him. How long is bron gonna hold on before he accept father time, no one knows so im just here, just enjoying his few years left in the NBA..
"The End Is Near For LeBron"
Lebron in 2027: I didn't hear no bell
At his age this to me is amazing, still flying high with his dunks, I always hope nothing happens when he lands
Also the man has played ball all his life . And to add 20 years of elite nba play plus post seasons. The man should be considered a monster.
Post seasons + Olympics + Summer pick ups.
Barry Bonds at age 40 was the baseball GOAT.
Not everyone gets worse with age. Bonds was incredible up to age 42.
10 finals, games 7s and all that, thats why the warriors broken-down In 2019 cause of fatigue
“Noodle arm” 🤣🤣🤣 Not a diss. Accurate!
Appreciate every game you get to watch LeBron play. You likely won’t ever see substances greatness at this level on and off the court.
If I were LeBron, I'd just take an 80% pay cut and sign on as a veteran role player on a stacked team and play that way until I was 44, focusing on 18 mins of high IQ passing and defense. And then retire with 2 more rings or so. To hell with "might tarnish how people remember me" stuff.
Dr. Sutterer - How do you fix the broken hearts of Laker Nation ?
Time 😂
He could play a lot more longer in my opinion if he wanted to but he won't be able do what he's always done honestly. That's it lol
Hilarious.
If he decides to go Vince Carter mode, I can see LeBron playing until he's 45 and get close to 45k career points.
If he moves to the 5 position he can play 3-5 more years imo
@@calamorta same thing I was thinking
@@bigjohn1926 that's what I was thinking too
I don't wanna be that guy but Peyton broke numerous NFL single season records and was the peak version of himself in Denver. It was only the last second that he began to decline. In that season, he won the Superbowl. Hard to say that's a storyline that takes away from his career. I think that's the Colts fan in you wishing he'd never formed a new legacy with a new franchise. Which is understandable.
Lebron body still is a freak of nature
I still remember lebron in his prime destroying my celtics.
When kobe passed on, i learnt to never take greatness for granted
This really felt like his last best chance, heartbreaking to see that mavs injury and how it hampered him down the stretch. His run to breaking Kareem’s record was unreal - hopefully one of the next two yrs he’ll be able to save it up for the postseason and make one last run
You can’t continue to go hard every day at that age in any pro sport 💯
At 40 years old physically everything goes down hill fast 🔥
It was really weird in a press conference where the word retirement was never used that it turned into some ulterior conspiracy by him to manipulate the media when we've seen him miss all these games since joining the Lakers. This is also why load management might not be the devil that it's made out to be. Most of these guys are legitimately injured and are just trying to play through it.
The most underrated accomplishment that he's had in his career is that he's avoided the catastrophic injury IMO.
As an MD myself, I have always heard malleolus pronounced as “mal-EE-O-lus,” not “muh-LAY-lus.”
Yet I intrinsically trust your pronunciation and assume I’ve been wrong this whole time 😂
He removed a syllable. Work smarter, not harder.
I think if these superstars want to extend their careers they need to take lower minutes and a lower contract so that there is enough salary cap to get stars that can take the load.
Being able to play NBA basketball with or against your son would be a real accomplishment too.
I think LeBron could still give 24-36 minutes of great play, and maybe even 12-24 minutes of legendary play, but asking him to play 36-48 is insane at his age.
I still can't believe that his haters would find him being injured is *fake.*
They thought that playing in NBA is like walking in the park
It was the flop tendon, in case there's any confusion 😆
Time heals all wounds but not lingering injuries
No one can play that long putting that much wear and tear on the body thinking it will never have any problems is crazy, if he keeps playing at that level the next injury is going to be career ending.
It's gonna be so weird hearing him announce it. He just feels like a staple since forever.
Can't wait for him to be gone.
@@Mamba-Kush 😔
@@Mamba-Kushthat's sad man. Really sad.
@@Mamba-Kush loser
The final decision. Not yet hopefully.
From the U.K (HEAT Fan) it is insane that someone his age is playing, still one of the best and not just dropping off into a mentor role on the team like most "senior" players do in the English Premier League (if they take the time to learn a new playstyle and skills to compliment it).
But the body can only take so much before it quits before you're mentally willing to.
I feel that Basketball now is squeezing every second out of the players because of the high tempo. Scores just keep getting higher and higher. No chance to rest.
But LeBron never dropped off or fell too far away from being relevant.
I hated to see this happen to Roger Federer. I’m hating seeing it to Rafa Nadal, and we are seeing it with Lebron. The end is near guys.. We have been lucky for the last 20 years.
It’s just really hard to accept that when the guy is your favorite player of all time
we took lebron for granted. We lucky to see him today still at a high level superstar.
Hey doc, can you do a video on Mikey Musumeci vs Gantumur Bayanduuren?! (BJJ) It was hands down the most damage I've ever seen to someone's leg in a sport. Would love to know your thoughts on what was most likely going on in the competitors brain at the time and how much pain Gantumur was in but still refused to tap.
As always love your vids
Yo that match was ridiculous and I've never seen someone in sports care less about their own body, seriously what are they feeding that dude Gantumur
Watching a super-human performance for 15+ years was fun. Disheartening to watch the greats come down to mere mortal athletic abilities. Thanks for the fact based discussion.
If I am LBJ, I heal up my body over the next year so I can spend a full season playing 20 minutes a game alongside my son. That is worth more the $97 million (when you are already a billionaire).
Was only listening to the video instead of watching so when you said Tommy John changed your life, I was like wth how is Tommy John surgery a good thing lol
Hahaha funny thing is ive actually had Tommy John surgery
@@BrianSuttererMDwhy?
Baseball probably
@@BrianSuttererMD Here is an interesting video for you to make about your own injury, surgery, rehab !
You can not beat father time.
He only said that so the media wouldn't talk about the Lakers being crushed by Denver, but about his career. Of course he will keep playing.
you act like the lakers rolled over and had no fight
Lebron needs to trust his teammates at the ultimate level… sit on the bench and only come in for appropriate minutes like 32 min/game so he can be more rested and productive.
I like this guy but I feel like it has always been people like this that make lebron want to retire earlier. Why can’t we just motivate him to play as long as possible and just accept when the time comes that he does retire…
Ive had turf toe before from working a physically demanding job. I felt like i could "crunch" my foot just to make it feel better. Not a nice feeling at all
maybe bron would play for a single season with bronny and make it like farewell tour and him passing his torch to his son.
I'm a WWE fan:
and watching guys like: HBK, Undertaker, Triple H, SCSA, Chris Jericho, Rey Mysterio, Ric Flair, Kane, etc taking very noticeable steps back-- because their bodies couldn't hold up anymore-- was kinda hard to watch.
LeBron should take Jordan's route, by stepping away for a year; and then, return for 1 or 2 year push (to hoop with his son).
I agree with you about not wanting to see our favorite players play when can clearly see they lost a step or two. . I saw a Laker game live, right after Kobe recovered from that achilles rupture. I didn’t like watching Kobe playing knowing that he was no longer the same Kobe 😕
The fact that he’s even still ballin and trucking dudes at his age and amount of games is unreal lol. My legs would’ve gave out in a couple seasons.
Jordan played 82 games with the Wizards
He has nothing left to prove.
In case Lebron still plays, he should not play more than 30mins. But the problem is, the expectation from him on contract point of view which is a staggering $40m+. The wiser choice is if he prioritizes his health and just retire and maybe come back the season when Bronny will be drafted and hopefully had a farewell season.
🤯 I absolutely love the game plan doc just laid out. Bron, you gave us 20 AMAZING years, we can give you 1 back for a full year of recovery to see you then come back and play with Bronny for 1 or 2 years. Best player play I’ve heard yet.
Lebrons body is really made of steel. In game 3 he tweaked his ankle and it looks really bad but still played thru it
It's crazy to do a promo for a TOMMY JOHN shirt in this channel
LeBron is still very good for his age and will probably play until he's 40 and then retire. So he's got about 2 more years and fans need to appreciate him while they can.
Great video, Dr. Sutterer! We appreciate the engaging anatomy discussion plus bringing real-life insight to young sports fans. Thanks again from your fans in HB!
Welcome to your Max Kellerman moment my fellow Doctor!
Father Time got Zlatan the last 2 years, and it is coming for LeBron!
He is getting tired fast, but I don’t see much decline , he can still drive to the basket at will, can go 1 on 1 with anyone.
He should've retired 3 years ago. Its diminishing returns from this point. He's gonna miss more and more games
He is 38, the fact that he can do what he does for 60 games is insane. I imagine that he is talking about retirement to put pressure on the Lakers so that they don't stand pat and accept this team as their status quo. If he is going to play, he wants a team that can beat the Nuggets. If he can no longer compete for chips, he can easily retire and comeback healthy to play a year with his son if he wants to. With the team Cleveland has built, what would stop them from taking Bronny too early, getting Lebron on a cheap contract, and winning a championship? Either way, having watched his career--his 25 straight against Detroit, absolutely throttling my Bulls live in the ECF, his insane performances both by himself and then winning the chip two years in a row against GSW--has been an absolute joy. If he hung it up now he owes us nothing. Everything else is just icing.
He could play a long time as a role player in limited minutes. A loooong time.
If he’d be ok as a 4th or 5th or coming off the bench for 10-12 points a night, he could play until 45. I’m not sure he’d want to do that, but the way he’s taken care of himself, he could.
Thanks Pelinka for giving LeBron a supermax when he's 40
It's not just athletes that drop off. It is ALL of us. Remember, Mother Nature and Father Time are UNDEFEATED.
I'm in my early 20s and haven't known a league without him. It's gonna be weird to watch the NBA without Lebron.
All the younger gen A kids won't know him at all.
Can you do a video on Gilbert Burns’ injuries to his shoulder/trap?
9:40 wait Manning won and lost super bowls while in Denver? His throwing ball wasn't what it was when younger but he still got the job done. And, I'm a Dallas fan.
Those teams had a top 3 defense, and a top 5 running game. Payton was basically Trent Dilfer there. Convert a few third downs, don't throw a pick. Ta da
True. Peyton spent 4 years here in Denver, had three great seasons and one mediocre one. Even in 2015, despute not getting a lot of touchdowns, he still managed to march down the field to set us up for plenty of crucial field goals.
Father Time is undefeated. As a Lakers fan, I feel tremendous gratitude towards LBJ.
it happens to everyone in life our bodies don't hold up like they use too. better to just accept it and figure out what's best
if you are avg 29p 8r 7a on 50%fg in the reg. season and drop 40p 10r 9a 2a on 75%ts in your last game (elimination game) vs champions, you are fine for a few years
Plantar fasciitis is my diagnosis based on symptoms reported before the injury.
This video should be renamed to "Doctor casually explains the unfortunate tragedy of death through a sports analogy"
It's crazy the expectations we bestow upon a player like LeBron James. We need doctors reminding and confirming to us that he is indeed human after all. People who love him and hate him alike still expect him to be the best in every game he plays, every series, every time he's on the floor.
Kids today bagging on Lebron don’t have a proper grasp on time. To be a top 10 for 20 YEARS…its not human.
It's probably too difficult to do all the time but I'm a golf pro and world love to see some golf related content
Telling media that he has some health issue while playing the playoffs.. Lol, same old same old.
I just wanna point this out for everyone. People seem to think lebron played at a lower level than usual this season compared to past season due to age and fatigue and all that BS. That's simply not true. Before the foot injury he was easily a top 5 player in the NBA. LeBron, when healthy, is still a top 5 guy. The problem is he's getting injured more and more often which results in him not being able to play at 100% as seen in the playoffs.
Very well spoken.
So be it it's been one hell of a ride.
He's 38 years old Doc? You want a reward for your "revelation"?🤣🤣🤣
Bro reports just came out about Bron playing with a torn tendon😂. Brain is a fortune teller
That’s the thing about how Kobe retired 60 points gave it his all and had nothing left to give at the final buzzer. I know lebron will play less and less but he has played TWENTY YEARS and say what you want about him even if he limps across the finish line.. he’s been a model of consistency in the NBA. I think he gives it one last run
He still top 10 player in current NBA🤷 tho
Not surprising. 20 years is a long time for feet to slap against hardwood. Some people might think certain things are infinite, but human endurance definitely isn’t. Bones, tendons and tissues can only take so much.
Still people saying that he is shifting the narrative by saying he is thinking of retirement
Doc's sponsor being "Tommy John" is a little too on the nose if you ask me 😂