After facing the NBA’s top two rookies four times in 10 days, superstar LeBron James believes the league’s future is in good hands. However, he believes he is capable in the present.
James and the Los Angeles Lakers defeated top overall draft pick Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans twice while splitting a pair with second overall pick Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies. The matchups appeared to bring out the best in the young stars. 
They also brought out the best in James, 35, whose oldest son is just four years younger than the 19-year-old Williamson. As young gunslingers test themselves against him, James repeatedly showed he still has the quickest draw. 
“The league is in great hands with guys like Zion, Ja Morant, Luka Doncic, Trae Young, Jayson Tatum and the list goes on and on,” James said. “I’m just happy to be a part of it and be on the floor with those guys in their younger days.” 
In a February 21 home win over Memphis, James scored 32 points while the 20-year-old Morant had 17. The point guard evened the score Friday with 27 points and a season-high 14 assists in a home victory over the Lakers. 
It was a huge win for Memphis (29-31), which had lost five straight and is clinging to the Western Conference’s final playoff spot.  After ending the Lakers’ seven-game winning streak, Morant exchanged jerseys with James. 
“That’s big bro – The King,” said Morant, who was four years old when James made his NBA debut in 2003. 
“I mean, I feel like everybody knows who he is. Just somebody that I look up to, a great (role) model. He’s just one of a kind. I don’t think there can be another LeBron.” 
“The kid is super special,” James said. “And like I said when we played them in LA, Memphis got a great one. The sky’s the limit for the kid.”
On Tuesday, James scored a season-high 40 points to offset 29 by Williamson in a home win over the Pelicans (26-34). In Sunday’s rematch, Williamson scored a season-high 35 points, but James notched his league-leading 13th triple-double with 34 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds to lead the Lakers to a road victory. 
“He is who he is – incredible player,” Williamson said. “I give respect when it’s due.” 
James got the better of Williamson down the stretch with a steal, a three-pointer over the rookie and a tough fadeaway with Williamson in his face. Afterwards, they spoke privately on the court. 
“If I’m able to give my wisdom of the game, pass it down while I’m playing or after I’m playing, I feel like it’s my job because the game has just given me so much since I started playing when I was eight years old,” James said. 
“(It) definitely means something because he’s been doing this for 17 years, and his resume speaks for itself,” Williamson said.  
Morant is considered the front-runner for Rookie of the Year, but Williamson – who missed the first three months following knee surgery – is closing the gap with 11 straight 20-point games, the most ever by a teenager. 
It may come down to which rookie’s team secures the eighth seed and sets up another showdown with James, the old gunslinger.  
“He just controls the whole game,” Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry said. 
“I’m just amazed that they talk about anybody other than him for MVP.”