People in the NBA think LeBron James is emulating Stephen Curry to preserve his body and keep himself interested

LeBron James is taking and making more and deeper three-pointers than ever before.
According to a report, one NBA scout thinks James may be taking more three-pointers because they're easier shots than going to the basket and will help him preserve his body.
Lakers head coach Luke Walton suggested that James may be finding new ways to challenge himself and keep himself engaged.

Stop us if you've heard this before: A year older, another year into his career, LeBron James isn't slowing down.

The soon-to-be-34-year-old Los Angeles Laker is averaging 28 points (his most in nine years), 7 rebounds, and 7 assists per game for the 17-11 Lakers.

But James has made one subtle change to his game — he's launching from deep like he's doing a Stephen Curry impression.

James is averaging 5.9 three-point attempts and making two of them per game, both career highs. His 37.6% shooting from downtown is 3 percentage points better than his career average. But it's not just James' shooting that has increased; it's how he's doing it.

According to the NBA's stats site, James has already taken 122 shots from 25 to 29 feet, which is basically any non-corner three. He's taken 10 shots from 30 feet and beyond, making three of them. He took 12 such shots all of last year.

James is also letting them fly quicker, too. According to NBA.com, James is taking three pull-up three-pointers per game, tied for ninth in the league.

According to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, some people around the league have theories on James' new shooting habits. One is that deep threes are simply easier shots for James to take. They're generally less contested and require less work.

A scout told McMenamin: "

James might just be saving his energy a little more for later in the season, when his drives become more impactful.

Of course, James himself is smart enough to add a new skill to his repertoire. In an era when teams are shooting more threes from farther than ever before, it surely has occurred to James that he has to keep up with the times.

James hasn't lost much of a step, even as he's gotten older, and is still an offensive force. If James' three-pointer becomes a truly reliable skill, he'll only continue to age better and better, extending what is already an unfathomably long prime for an NBA star.

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People in the NBA think LeBron James is emulating Stephen Curry to preserve his body and keep himself interested

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