Over the years, LeBron James has occasionally come under fire for heading to the locker room before the end of games. It has been viewed as a disrespectful act, and James made it clear on the Mind the Game podcast that he has a good reason for wanting to leave if the game has already been wrapped up one way or the other.
“It’s funny, a lot of people see me walking off the court when it’s like time left in the game,” James said. “No matter if it’s a loss or a win… I gotta get to the locker room to start my process to get ready for the next game.
“I’ll be sitting in the locker room, foot on an ice bag, ice bags on,” James continued. “I got my smoothie and my fruit, and I’m already getting to it right now… During a loss they was like, ‘Oh, he’s a poor sport. He’s leaving the court.’ … And then they start seeing me doing it during the wins, and they was like, ‘He’s got no sportsmanship!'”
James is as well prepared for games as anyone in the league, and this explains why. His focus is already on the next game when the current one is winding down.
James is averaging 24.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, 8.3 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game for the Los Angeles Lakers in 2024-25. The 40-year-old’s commitment toward taking care of his body and being ready for the next game is why he is able to dominate in his 22nd season.
While James is adamant that he isn’t trying to disrespect anyone by leaving early, there are times when it seems like he might be. One instance that comes to mind is the first-round playoff series between the Lakers and the Memphis Grizzlies in 2023. There was a lot of trash talking going on, and it was the Lakers who would emerge victorious in six games.
James headed to the locker room before Game 6 ended and didn’t bother to shake hands with the Grizzlies. With the Lakers having some time off before their next series, it’s unlikely he was leaving early to prepare for the upcoming game. James was almost certainly sending a message there, and he probably has done that a few times.
Also in this episode, James revealed he arrives at an arena five hours before games. He spends time in the weight room and on the court, and checks out the scouting report while also having a small meal. Again, the emphasis is on ensuring he is ready for the game. You admire just how dedicated he is after all these years.
James is set to be in action next against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on Wednesday at 7:30 PM ET. It’s going to be a rare occasion where he’s somewhat of an afterthought, as this will be Luka Doncic’s first game in Dallas against the Mavericks since the trade. You better believe James is going to be well prepared as always, though.
