The former NBA guard emphasizes the kind of ball-handling abilities LeBron possesses.

Some NBA players like Kyrie Irving, Stephen Curry, and James Harden are widely celebrated for their exceptional ball-handling abilities and are the first names you think of when talking about that subject. Still, they are not the only ones, as Austin Rivers took a moment on the ‘Off Guard’ podcast to highlight the often-overlooked bag that LeBron James brings to the table.

“You asked me who surprised me with their handle? I’m talking about LeBron James is the guy you don’t really envision having a tight handle,” Rivers said.

James almost tore Austin’s Achilles

Reflecting on a particular play, Rivers underlined the unexpected nature of the moment, noting how he found himself genuinely shocked when LeBron showcased a skillful move, seamlessly going in and out, causing him to lose his balance and potentially tearing his Achilles.

“I pressed him in Cleveland one time because he was up there. There, I was like, ‘I’m about to go get this sh*t from him.’ I went to go take the ball, and he goes out there and hits me with an in and out, and my leg, my back leg went back,” Rivers added. “And I almost tore my damn Achilles bro.”

Rivers was known as a pesky defender, so getting him out of balance was no easy feat, as LBJ showed Austin there is more to his game than brute force and strength.

LeBron is only improving season after season

From the moment the Akron native stepped into the league, his signature moves included a lethal fadeaway, a pull-up jumper, and an unparalleled ability to drive to the rim at will. As the years have unfolded, James has refined his skills as a 3-point shooter and, combined with his smooth ball-handling, has elevated himself to one of the toughest players to contain, even in his 21st year in the NBA.

Given that the Los Angeles Lakers find themselves under .500 and out of the playoff picture, LeBron will need to break a lot of ankles if his team is going to make a serious case to secure a higher seed in the Western Conference.