LeBron James is same age as both head coaches in Lakers-Thunder series

LeBron James is same age as both head coaches in Lakers-Thunder series originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Around the time LeBron James was drafted, JJ Redick was preparing for his sophomore season at Duke, and Mark Daigenault was getting ready to be a student manager at UConn under Jim Calhoun.

And now 23 years later, they're all key faces in an NBA playoff series. Two head coaches, and one of the greatest players of all time.

If you want a tidbit that shows James' majesty as much as any other, it's this: He's the same age as both head coaches in the Western Conference semifinals series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Oklahoma City Thunder.

His head coach, Redick, is 41.

OKC's head coach, Daigenault, is 41.

And James is 41.

Redick is the oldest of the trio, born on June 24, 1984.

James was born on Dec. 30, 1984.

Daigenault is the youngest, having been born on Feb. 23, 1985.

But seriously, just consider the improbability here. Yes, there have been players older than coaches before.

But to have one of the best players in the series be the same age as the men in charge, and not at some surprisingly young age for a coach? LeBron is one of one.