Kevin Love Calls Former Teammate LeBron James the Smartest Player He Has Ever Seen
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Utah Jazz forward Kevin Love said Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James possesses the highest basketball IQ of any teammate he has played alongside.
Appearing on “The Old Man and the Three” podcast, Love quickly pointed to James when asked to name the most cerebral player he has encountered. “Easy, LeBron,” Love told hosts J.J. Redick and Tommy Alter. “He was the type of guy who could do every team’s scout. He knew every play, he knew every guy’s tendency. He watched an endless amount of basketball.”
Love and James teamed up with the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2014 to 2018, a run highlighted by the franchise’s first NBA championship in 2016. Now 36, Love signed with Utah before the 2025-26 season and faced James at Crypto.com Arena on Nov. 18, 2025.
James, 41, is the league’s oldest active player but remains productive by leveraging the court vision and preparation Love referenced. Teammate Jarred Vanderbilt recently said those mental advantages separate the four-time MVP from the rest of the league.
The Lakers sit in the middle of the Western Conference standings as James rounds back into form after missing the season’s opening stretch. Head coach J.J. Redick has likened James’ late-career effectiveness to Baseball Hall of Famer Greg Maddux, noting how both athletes extended their primes through intelligence and precision.
Source: LakersNation.com
