JJ Redick on LeBron James turning 41 years of age

Tuesday is LeBron James' 41st birthday. Given the way he has been playing ever since getting into game shape following his early-season absence due to sciatica, one may demand to see his birth certificate.

He missed the Los Angeles Lakers' first 14 games of the schedule, and after taking several games to get his sea legs underneath him, he has averaged 25.4 points on 56.4% overall shooting and 36.1% from 3-point range, 5.4 rebounds and 5.9 assists a game in his last eight games. He's clearly still, at least for the most part, the same superstar-level player he has been for the last several years, and it doesn't seem as if he will fall off a cliff any time soon.

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Lakers coach JJ Redick is also 41 years of age, and he drew a stark contrast between his physical state and that of James.

“It is remarkable,” Redick said. “I have trouble getting out of bed in the morning and got to get an injection on my knee. My body is old and broken. It’s like that [maxim]: If you don’t use it, you lose it. And once I stopped using it, I lost it all. I can still barely touch the rim though, which is nuts.”

James can not only still touch the rim, but he can still throw down thunderous dunks. He has done so multiple times in multiple games lately, and it is evidence that he still remains very athletic and explosive, even as he gradually approaches middle age.

This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: JJ Redick on LeBron James turning 41 years of age