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LeBron feels his level of play is at 'all-time high'

Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports / Action Images

He's in his 15th season in the Association, has played more than 43,000 minutes during the regular season since 2003, and has been to the NBA Finals seven straight times.

Yet even with all of that mileage, LeBron James is still finding ways to surprise himself, as he's playing perhaps the best basketball of his career.

"Probably an all-time high," James told ESPN's Cassidy Hubbarth of his level of play following the Cleveland Cavaliers' 113-108 road win over the Denver Nuggets on Wednesday. "Just because of my body, my mind, the way I go out and approach the game. And then, just the grace of God, giving me the ability to do this. I'm blessed, and I never take it for granted."

Cleveland was bailed out by James at Pepsi Center, with the four-time MVP sinking three shots in the closing moments to bring his squad back from the brink of defeat.

He finished with 39 points (his second-most this season) on 15-of-25 shooting in 39 minutes, adding 10 assists and eight rebounds to help the Cavaliers improve to 38-26.

"He wanted it," said head coach Tyronn Lue, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. "The ball was in his hands. ... Down the stretch, we wanted to put it in Bron's hands and run pick-and-roll."

Since returning from the All-Star break, James has scored 30 or more points in six of Cleveland's eight outings. He's also averaging a near triple-double of 30 points, 9.8 boards, and 9.7 dimes across his team's 10 games since revamping the roster at the trade deadline.

The 33-year-old is scoring more points per game than he has since his last year in South Beach (27), and averaging the second-most assists in the league (nine), which is also a career high.

Cleveland, however, only sits third in the East, and is well out of the race for the top seed. James isn't sweating that, though.

"Listen, it doesn't matter to me if I'm a 6-seed or a 3-seed or a 2-seed, 8-seed," he said. "If I come into your building for a Game 1, I can be very challenging."

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