As he turns 33, LeBron is playing some of the best basketball of his career

CLEVELAND– Before you toast to the New Year, toast to The King.

LeBron James turns 33 today and is in the middle of one of the best seasons of his career. He’s currently third in the league averaging 27.8 points per game while shooting a career-best 56 percent from the field. He has the highest player efficiency rating, just besting Houston’s James Harden. He’s also second in the league averaging a career-best 9.3 assists. On top of that, he’s having the second best season of his career in terms of rebounds (8.2) and blocks (1.0).

In the middle of his 15th season, those kinds of numbers are nearly unheard of. The points average alone is better than any player in NBA history in their 15th season. For as good as James is, however, perhaps the biggest marvel is how much work he continues to put in to remain at the top of his craft.

“When you’re true to the game, the game gives back,” is a sentiment that LeBron James has shared repeatedly. And as he gets another year older, it becomes more clear just how much he has given, and how much he still has left to give.

“I don’t take those moments for granted,” James said on Friday. “And not only to be able to live another year, I get to play an NBA game on my birthday. That’s like icing on the cake, literally, for your birthday.”

Long live The King.

Rooks @cediosman & @ante_zizic with a beautiful rendition of happy birthday for @KingJames. ???#CavsJazz || #AllForOne pic.twitter.com/69fSbOsFwf

— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) December 30, 2017