LeBron James may be entering his 22nd NBA season, but his commitment to the game hasn’t wavered one bit. In a behind-the-scenes story that highlights just how much the 40-year-old superstar still influences the Lakers’ culture, assistant coach Nate McMillan praised James for setting the tone last season with his unmatched preparation and professionalism.
“When LeBron reported last year, he came in after the Olympics, he took a vacation with his family, then he came in mid-September,” McMillan said on the ‘Sports Shop’ podcast. “From that day forward, he was the first to be everywhere. First in the building, first on the plane, first in the meetings, and I was like ‘Wow.’ He’s setting the example.”
It’s often said that maintaining a proper work ethic is half the equation to finding success in the NBA. For LeBron James, he’s been working hard from day one to maximize his skill, adapt his game over time, and keep his body in peak condition.
For most aging superstars, it’s a tough ask to set the example by being the first to show up to team-related activities, but James is the exception. Even at 40, LeBron continues to outpace his teammates and outwork much younger peers.
With averages of 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game on 51.3% shooting last season, James’ work paid off with another All-Star caliber season. Even better, it helped elevate the Lakers to a top-three seed in the Western Conference.
Now that Luka Doncic is on the roster, LeBron can show him all the tricks he uses every summer to ensure he’s at the top of his game. He’ll keep setting the tone in L.A., pushing his teammates to match his elite standard. For LeBron, it starts with simply showing up as early and often as he can when he’s got an opportunity to hone his craft or build chemistry with his teammates.
McMillan Reveals Key Differences Between LeBron And Kobe
While LeBron’s work ethic cannot be questioned, many critics have called out his demeanor and competitive spirit. While guys like Kobe Bryant were out to torture their opponents, LeBron doesn’t have that same approach, and McMillan says it’s the biggest thing that separates him from the “assassins” of the game.
“I think they’re different. A lot of people compare LeBron to Kobe and Michael,” said the Lakers coach. “As athletes, yeah, you can do that, but I would compare Kobe more to Michael and LeBron more to Magic. They’re different players and they play the game differently. I look at Kobe and Michael as assassins. And I look at Magic and LeBron as guys that, they’ll kill you too, but they do it in a different way.”
While Kobe and Jordan made it a point to antagonize the enemy, LeBron is much less emotional when he’s doing his thing, and it makes him closer to someone like Magic Johnson, who operated in a very similar way.
Regardless of which legend you compare him to, what LeBron is doing now is unprecedented in NBA history. At 40 years old and with 22 years of experience in the NBA, he’s still playing elite-level basketball and is putting in the same work that he did as a rookie in 2003. That consistency is what separates LeBron from everyone else, and it’s one of the many reasons why he has a chance to pull off something special next season.
