Yahoo Sports senior NBA analyst Kevin O’Connor breaks down one of the figures in his rankings of the top 40 players of this year’s NBA playoffs. Hear the full conversation on “The Kevin O’Connor Show” and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.

At number 5, LeBron James, 24.4 points per game, 8.2 assists, 7.8 rebounds at age 40.

LeBron still a top five player, still scores a ton in a variety of ways as well.

He’s evolved there.

Aside from the on ball creation, he’s now an elite shooter, made 41% of his catch and shoot threes.

He’s an active cutter playing alongside Luca.

He’s a screener, gets mismatches for the.

Lakers.

He gets IO and post-op mismatches, whether it’s for himself or Luca.

When he screens for Luca, the Lakers are scoring 1.6 points per screen.

That is just an unbelievable number and they’re gonna go to that over and over and over again in the postseason regardless of their opponent.

And on top of that, for stretches of this season on defense, he looked like Draymond.

And I know it was up and down for him earlier in the year, not quite the same, post-injury, not quite the same, but when he was healthy, When he was on, he looked like an all defensive caliber style player.

And so when he’s at peak levels, which he is right now, that’s why he belongs in the top 5.

You’re taking LeBron, 5th or higher, if you’re drafting players for the postseason, even at age 40, even at age 40.