Even in his 22nd NBA season, LeBron James continues to set a standard of discipline and preparation that’s as awe-inspiring as his game. While many athletes would understandably scale back as their careers progress, LeBron has doubled down on his routine—arriving at arenas an incredible five hours before tip-off to get ready.
He recently explained why on the Mind The Game podcast with Steve Nash, offering fans a rare and detailed look at what it takes to remain elite at age 40.
“To prepare how I would like to prepare to get ready for a match… What I do is, all my time is, there’s no fat. There’s no f**k-around time once I get to the arena.”
“You know, I get there five hours before. As soon as I get there, I put my workout gear on, I go right to the weight room. As soon as I leave the weight room, I go to the court, get a workout.”
“As soon as I leave the court, I go get body work and make sure that my body’s moving and doing those things with my body. As soon as that is done, I head in and put the NormaTecs and the ice and all that stuff on and recover from that.”
“As soon as that is done, now I’m reading a scouting report, like, tapping into that. Pretty much when that is done, now JJ’s coming into the locker room and he’s addressing the team. And it’s time to go.”
“I have a little meal in there, too. I’m eating. I have a little meal, couple snacks there, within there. Obviously, I want to keep my nutrition going, and I have to fuel the body because I know what I’m about to do out on the floor. But that time is occupied.”
This isn’t just a case of an old vet doing a light stretch and taking it easy. LeBron’s entire pregame routine remains intense, detailed, and built with purpose.
It’s a commitment to excellence that has helped him maintain averages of 24.5 points, 8.1 assists, and 7.2 rebounds per game this season—and still lead fast breaks, dunk in traffic, and play 35+ minutes on a nightly basis.
The concept of showing up this early isn’t new to LeBron. He’s been doing it for years, but it’s taken on new meaning in Year 22. Every step of his preparation is designed to maximize performance and longevity—from strength activation to cold therapy, from mental prep to nutrition.
It’s all part of a system that has helped him avoid serious injury for most of his career and stay mentally sharp in the most demanding moments.
It’s become so routine that even his younger teammates are taking notice. Austin Reaves recently revealed that he once tried to beat LeBron to the arena. Multiple Lakers staff members have echoed similar stories—if there’s a game at 7:30, LeBron might roll in by 2:30, locked in and ready.
The most incredible part? There’s still no sense of complacency in his voice. LeBron’s routine isn’t just about showing up early—it’s about showing up with intent. He continues to attack every detail as if he were still a rookie fighting for a spot in the rotation.
It’s a process rooted in obsession—but it’s also the reason why, even at 40, LeBron James remains not just in the league, but still at the very top of it.
