One of LeBron James’ greatest achievements has been his sustained greatness. As one of his teammates during their Cleveland Cavaliers days, Richard Jefferson observed how King James operated behind the scenes. RJ respected Bron even more because he learned what made Bron play well over two decades.
“It’s impressive as we all know, it’s mind-blowing, it’s still surprising because you see how hard you have to work. It also shows how smarter he is than everybody else,” Jefferson said on The Mark Jackson Show. “It’s like we have to account into that for his greatness. I’m not getting into LeBron or MJ, I believe there is no GOAT, there is a Mount Rushmore, that’s the end of it.”
LeBron is unprecedented in how he takes care of his body
King James was blessed with arguably the best physical traits any athlete could want. He was naturally athletic and grew to 6’8” or even 6’9”. However, maintaining that body and athleticism over 20 years is not easy.
He was not very careful with his body during his early years because he knew his youth could handle that. However, as he grew older, Bron became meticulous about working on his body by knowing what he needed to eat, focusing on getting enough rest, and even taking mental breaks.
The Chosen One has focused on giving himself the most opportunities possible by being careful with his body. He might have started later than he would have liked, but his hard work behind the scenes has paid off. James had help from multiple people, including his trainers and dieticians, but his discipline made him a better player.
Dwyane Wade once discussed why LeBron has been a physical marvel throughout his career. He did bring up how most of Bron’s physical traits are God-given, but he does not discount the four-time MVP’s efforts.
“What you put in your body; nutrition. We understand the training that you need. I've seen this guy [LeBron] taking care of his body and own it,” Wade said on I AM ATHLETE.
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LeBron continues to thrive due to his intelligence
LeBron is one of the most cerebral stars the NBA has had. He is a smart player who could have thrived in the league without being physically gifted. James is one of the most natural playmakers because he always knows that maximizing his teammates is the key to victory.
James has even said he wants to be remembered as more of a playmaker . That is surprising from the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, but playing the right way has always been his mantra. That play style has probably extended his career, but thankfully, he is still healthy, so he has not had to adjust much during his near-everlasting career.
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