LeBron James is ready for action. As the Lakers get ready to open their first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, head coach JJ Redick made it clear that James isn’t just the face of the franchise—he’s the heartbeat of the team’s defense.

LeBron James' incredible 20-season streak of averaging 25+ points per game has come to an end. While he may not be the best player in NBA history, his longevity is unrivaled. Here’s what that means for his legacy.

For first-time readers of this feature, eight members of The Sporting News staff collaborated to rank the top 30 players in the NBA playoffs (including Play-In teams). Participant