LeBron James spoke after the Los Angeles Lakers‘ 117-114 loss against the Detroit Pistons. When asked about the Pistons playing very physically against him and the Lakers, James gave a very brazen answer. He noted that he doesn’t shy away from physicality, attributing it to his high school days playing football. He added that the Lakers need to match opposing teams’ physicality by playing physically themselves.
“You just gotta match physicality with physicality. I can’t speak for anybody but myself when it comes to that. I’m a football player so I don’t mind physicality, to be honest. Perfectly fine for me but as a team we have to be better. We gotta do it as a team… It’s not something that you’re going to learn. It’s either in you or it’s not.”
LeBron James on whether opposing teams’ physicality- like Detroit – is getting the best of the Lakers: “I’m a football player so I don’t mind physicality, to be honest” pic.twitter.com/5jwit85CMj
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) December 24, 2024
James rose to prominence playing basketball at St. Vincent-St. Mary’s high school in Akron, Ohio. But he wasn’t just a one-sport athlete there, as he also played high school football there, playing as a wide receiver there. He stopped playing after two years, choosing to focus on basketball heading into his senior year of high school.
James apparently attracted a lot of attention from recruiters across the country but dedicated himself to basketball. He was even compared to legendary NFL wide receiver Randy Moss during the initial scouting reports. James definitely made the right call picking basketball, as he became one of the greatest players in the history of the sport.
And while he could have achieved a lot of success in the NFL, there is no way to know for sure whether he could have achieved the same level of success there as he did in the NBA.
LeBron James Has Always Been A Physical Player
One of LeBron James’ biggest strengths as a basketball player is his literal strength. James is 6’8, and 250 pounds, and a complete athletic freak of nature. For him to have the frame, the build, and the strength he has combined with his incredible speed and IQ makes him arguably the most dangerous offensive player in NBA history.
Many analysts, including LeBron James’ staunchest critic Skip Bayless, have called James the best driver in basketball history. His ability to bully whoever is in front of him en route to the hoop is absolutely unparalleled. LeBron driving to the basket and then getting fouled in the process, only to make the shot and earn a trip to the free-throw line has almost become a signature move for James.
Even at 39 years old, LeBron James continues to play with the same level of physicality that we used to during the peak of his career, although less frequently. Now a lot older, James relies on short bursts of physicality to help his team take a step ahead of the opponents.
We will never see another player like LeBron James. He is a physical specimen and arguably the greatest pure physical athlete in the history of the NBA.
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