When it comes to running plays and having a deep understanding of the game, not every NBA player is on an equal level. In the case of LeBron James, he was a cut above the rest from the very start and displayed a level of basketball IQ that shocked his coaches from a very young age.
“I could flip a play when I was eight years old,” said James on his ‘Mind The Game’ podcast with JJ Redick. “No matter if it was pass-and-cut, no matter if it was ‘let’s run flex but let’s start on the left side,’ no matter if it was just let’s DHO drive and kick… I was doing that stiff when I was eight, nine years old and my coaches would just be blown away.”
According to James, this natural grasp of the game is not something he discovered or worked to master — it was an inherent, natural skill that was ingrained in him from birth.
“I wouldn’t know where it came from, I have no idea,” said LeBron. “I think I was born with a sports IQ and it could have been any sport but I just think basketball was the one that I chose but maybe I was chosen to do that as well.”
LeBron James elevates his teammates like very few players in NBA history and he’s made a career out of bringing out the most in his guys. With a 20-year track record of greatness, LeBron is renowned not just for his amazing longevity, but for his amazing basketball IQ that keeps him one step ahead of the competition.
Even now, in year 21, LeBron is finding ways to be effective and efficient on the court with averages of 25.5 points, 8.1 assists, and 7.2 rebounds per game on 53.2% shooting.
LeBron James Was A Child Prodigy
Mastering the game at a professional level takes years of practice and study, but some players are better at exploiting the system than others. In the case of LeBron James, he was seemingly born with a gift to see the game at an advanced level and it gave him a leg up as he rose the ranks of youth-level basketball.
During his High School career, when James was still just a teenager, he was playing like a professional on the court with averages of 25.2 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game on 55.8% shooting.
By the time LeBron’s name was up for the draft, he was considered one of the greatest prospects ever, drawing comparisons to legends like Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan as the self-proclaimed ‘Chosen One.’
The Cavaliers ended up taking LeBron first that summer and it’s arguably the best decision they’ve ever made. 20 years later, LeBron has a case for being the NBA’s GOAT, and not just on sheer talent and experience alone.
LeBron’s mastery of the Xs and Os of the game is so far ahead of his peers that it may keep him relevant for several years to come, well into his 40s. Because as much as LeBron’s body may decline, his mind is sharper than ever and it’s all he needs to take control of the action when he’s out on the court.
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