LeBron James’ ascent to NBA greatness has always been distinct. The Los Angeles Lakers icon bypassed the collegiate path, entering the league directly from high school as the top overall pick by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In a recent episode of his Mind the Game podcast alongside Steve Nash, James opened up about the instinctive and unrefined nature of his growth as a player. He explained that his development stemmed not from formal training but from engaging in street-style competition.
“I didn’t have a basketball trainer until my second, third, maybe fourth year in the NBA. My basketball training was just being on the court. Let’s just go hoop. Yeah. Let’s go hoop. 100%. Five on five, or two on two, or three on three,” James remarked.
“I didn’t have a basketball trainer until my 2nd, 3rd or 4th year in the NBA. My basketball training was just being on the court. Let’s just go hoop.”
LeBron James emphasizes that kids shouldn’t feel pressured to work with ‘basketball trainers’ 🤔
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“Basically, it’s one man for himself, and you could be guarded by all your friends. And if I score, I go to the free throw line, I shoot two free throws, and I get it back. And that’s how a lot of creation started with me, being able to dribble around three or four guys, going behind the back, getting physical with your friends. So it definitely helped me out a lot,” he added.
Luka Doncic Reflects on Playing with LeBron James
Doncic joined LeBron James on the podcast, discussing the experience of playing alongside one of his idols. He expressed that LeBron’s approach and professionalism have significantly influenced him, just as much as his remarkable abilities on the court.
“You see, I’ve never played with a guy like this. Just being traded to L.A., it was different. But playing with him is unbelievable. I’ve learned so much, especially off the court, seeing all the things he does to prepare for games. And obviously, everybody knows what kind of player he is,” Luka shared.
Despite another early playoff exit for the Lakers this season, questions linger about how many more seasons fans will enjoy LeBron’s contributions. Whether it’s one or two years left, the influence he has on emerging stars like Doncic ensures that his legacy will endure well beyond his retirement from the game.
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