LeBron James certainly knows a thing or two about being a great basketball player. On the much-anticipated first episode of James and JJ Redick’s Mind The Game podcast, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar shared what makes a great basketball player beyond talent, skill set, and size.
JJ Redick: “What are the qualities for you that make a great basketball player beyond just talent and skill set and size?
LeBron James: “Knowing the history of the game. Knowing the ones that came before you, knowing the ones that paved the way, knowing the reason why you’re actually having the ability to actually live out your dream. That doesn’t happen without the people that came before you. It doesn’t happen without Bill Russell going through what he went through during the Civil Rights Movement and all those things. Oscar Robertson going on with what he had to deal with during those times. It does not happen if they’re able to just be pure and who they are. That allows us to now perform and do it with no care.”
(starts at 9:30 mark):
James added discipline and love for the game as two more points for what makes someone a great player. The 39-year-old was pretty much on point there.
This isn’t the first time LeBron has brought up the importance of learning about those who came before you. Earlier this year, James shared some advice to the younger generation of players, with his very first point being that they should learn the history of the game and respect those who came before them.
If it wasn’t for the likes of Bill Russell and Oscar Robertson fighting the battles that they did, today’s Black players wouldn’t be in the position they are in. Former NBA player B.J. Armstrong said there would be no LeBron, Kobe Bryant, or Michael Jordan without Russell.
After them came Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, and the NBA as we know it today might never have even existed without the two of them. Their incredible rivalry on the court saved the NBA when the league was arguably at its lowest point.
Jordan was then the one who took the NBA to greater heights and helped it go global. It is only because of the great men that came before them, that today’s players are able to perform without a care, as James stated.
LeBron James Continues To Dominate In His 21st Season
LeBron’s talent, skill set, discipline, love for the game, and knowledge of its history are why he continues to be a force at this stage of his career. In his 21st season in the NBA, James is averaging 25.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, 8.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game.
There hasn’t been a player in NBA history that has been able to perform at this level this deep in their career. James is averaging more points per game in this campaign than every other player combined in their 21st season. That is simply ridiculous.
LeBron has also been remarkably efficient while putting up those numbers. It’s incredible to see the 20-time All-Star still going strong but we are certainly getting closer to the end of his career.
James is desperate to win more championships before he walks away, and it remains to be seen if the Lakers can put him in a position to seriously compete for them. For all his greatness this season, the team just has a 37-32 record. Depending on how the campaign ends, this might be LeBron’s last in LA.
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