NBA superstar LeBron James has certainly made his mark on the basketball world throughout his career.
Recently, his longevity in the game was highlighted by a remarkable comparison of photographs taken by the Sacramento Kings’ team photographer, Rocky Widner.
These photos, taken 20 years apart, showcase James’ incredible athleticism and skill that have remained consistent over the course of his career.
In 2003, a young 18-year-old James made his NBA debut with the Cleveland Cavaliers. One of the most memorable moments from that game was his breakaway, one-handed slam dunk.
Fast forward 20 years to the present day, and James, now 38 years old and a member of the Los Angeles Lakers, found himself in Sacramento once again. Surprisingly, he replicated that very same one-handed dunk during the game.
What makes this comparison even more astonishing is that both pictures were captured by the same photographer, Rocky Widner.
The NBA shared these photos, side by side, on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), showcasing James’ longevity and consistent performance over two decades.
Same date (October 29), same city (Sacramento), same photographer (Rocky Widner)… 20 years apart! 👑 pic.twitter.com/WDl9zvkhiy
— NBA (@NBA) October 30, 2023
James’ career has been nothing short of phenomenal. From his early days as a rising star to now being the oldest player in the NBA following Andre Iguodala’s retirement, James has continually been one of the best players in the league.
Despite his age, he has managed to maintain his athleticism and skill, as clearly demonstrated by the replicated dunk.
The jarring similarities between the two photos quickly gained attention on social media.
Fans and basketball enthusiasts were astounded by James’ ability to recreate the iconic moment from his debut game, two decades later.
My brain cannot comprehend this. Wild. https://t.co/VNzBEVcm95
— Matt Obendorf (@obe459) October 30, 2023
Is this the most mind-blowing, truly amazing group of photos ever published !?! https://t.co/beusVDp6UT
— Josh Jenkins (@JoshJenkins24) October 30, 2023
Uncanny how he manages to find moments in the game to repeat these looks https://t.co/4C23F7t6qG
— Significant Other (@LouieThinks) October 30, 2023
He’s longevity is inhuman https://t.co/1J7bZj8LJs
— Oyabin (@1stoyabin) October 30, 2023
This is incredible https://t.co/6TdxFCMbTB
— Royce Li (@RoyceSta) October 30, 2023
lebron is eternal (also dang film photography looks so much better) https://t.co/7BrJVNvQLv
— pass or play? (@3_erinyes) October 30, 2023
It is a testament to his dedication, work ethic, and love for the game.
