LeBron James early-season NBA form for LA Lakers is 'not sustainable,' claims Charles Barkley

LeBron James’ superb early-season form for the LA Lakers is "not sustainable” according to Charles Barkley, who thinks the NBA legend is likely to drop off as the season goes on.

The 38-year-old, one of the sport’s all-time greats, boasts a 33.3 point, 9.7 assist and 7.0 rebound average in his last three games.

With a 64% field goal percentage and 48% three-pointer percentage to boot, James has shown his class to help the Lakers rack up three wins on the bounce.

However, TNT Sports pundit Barkley can’t see the veteran keeping it up throughout the rigours of a full NBA season.

“I do not think it's sustainable because of his age,” Barkley said.

“You know how much I got love and respect I got for LeBron,” he added.

“But I think he thought Anthony Davis was going to take over by now and he clearly knows that's not going to happen.

“I don't think he can sustain it a long period of time at his age.”

Barkley continued: “We’ve only played like 10 games. LeBron is playing great because everybody's fresh at the beginning of the season.

“When we get to 20, 25, 30 games like that - everybody can say what they want to, but nobody beats Father Time. He’s undefeated.”

James has won four NBA championships and two Olympic gold medals during a decorated career.

And Kenny Smith believes the Lakers legend is capable of continuing his hot streak despite fast approaching his 39th birthday in December.

“The only thing that's not sustainable is 64% from the field because he does shoot jump shots as well,” he said.

“I don't know if you could sustain that over this time, but this is a heck of a time.

“The one thing I think is different from what you were saying about the late, great Kobe Bryant; he was playing about 41 minutes. Lebron is still only playing 34 minutes. So they're not taxing his body.”

Smith added that he thinks James’ late-career efforts will put him in the pantheon of basketball greats.

“Michael Jordan is to me the greatest basketball player ever,” he said.

“But no one, I don't think, will ever play as great as LeBron is playing at this age. I don't think anyone in the history of basketball will ever play this well this late.”

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