Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is now 41 years old and in his 23rd NBA season, the first person in league history to ever suit up this many years. And what has been most impressive about James at this stage of his career is not only how good he still is, but the amount of work he puts in to be able to perform at this level.
The true greats in any sport simply have a different mindset. The willingness to do any and everything needed to get his body ready is something that LeBron shares with other legends such as Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan, even though he really doesn’t have to at this point.
James has done everything anyone could possibly do in the NBA and many already feel he is the greatest player ever. But the Lakers star loves the game too much and as long as he is still playing, he makes sure to never cheat the game, quoting the famous rapper Jay-Z.
“I would never disrespect the basketball gods,” LeBron said when asked where his love and care of the game comes from. “I understand that it’s a real thing. I would never disrespect the basketball gods when it comes to playing this game. I put the time and the effort and the commitment in it, mentally, physically, spiritually.
“Every time I hit the floor or I’m at a practice or whatever the case may be, trying to set the example for my teammates and the younger generation that’s watching me or watching me throughout my career. My son is right over there, so I can’t afford to cheat the game, ever. I would never do that, and I’ve got to set an example for him over there, too. As Jay-Z would say, if you can’t respect that, your whole perspective is whack. Maybe you’ll love me when I fade to black.”
Lakers head coach JJ Redick recently spoke about James’ care and how being up close with him on a daily basis has really shown him the level of dedication the superstar has. And now LeBron is explaining why that is as it’s not just for his own good, but also to show the next generation of stars what it takes to truly be great.
James is simply one-of-a-kind and when everything is said and done in his career, no one will ever be able to say he didn’t give everything he had to the game of basketball.
Lakers’ LeBron James outlines preparation for first back-to-back of the season
To that point, James recently participated in his first back-to-back of the season for the Lakers, nearly dropping a triple-double in their victory over the Atlanta Hawks. And LeBron broke down what went into the decision, and his overall preparation to take the court.
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