It was during the 2011 NBA playoffs that people first noticed LeBron James carrying a large water jug everywhere he went.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst, who has followed the four-time champions career closely, reported back then that Bron drank a gallon of water daily during the playoffs. Thirteen years and four NBA titles later, King James' longtime trainer Mike Mancias, talked about why water plays a big role in his most prized client's diet.
"He carries around a gallon, the giant jug of water, that's one gallon. He carries it around everywhere he goes. He has a couple of those every day," said Mancias during his recent appearance on the High-Performance Podcast.
The importance of hydration
According to Mancias, the typical Bron day during the NBA season involves having a heavy and high-protein breakfast. He says LeBron's personal chef does a good job with this, but it typically includes lots of eggs, some turkey bacon, and a 'reward' of two small pancakes.
Aside from food, Mike also talked about the importance of having LeBron get 8-10 hours of sleep after a good night's workout. But Mancias said that the crucial element in four-time MVP's diet is 'a ton of hydration' because hydration is key for preventing failure on the basketball court.
"Failure can mean fatigue, failure can mean cramping or just lack of focus from being dehydrated. So being dehydrated can play a key role in why you would lose a game or why your performance can be a failure," added Mancias . "We all need to hydrate, I would say at least a gallon a day in order for our digestive system to work functionally and again hydration for muscle cramping and just overall clarity. You'll be amazed at how clear your mind thinks when you're well-hydrated."
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No longevity without Mancias
Mancias had just gotten a job as the Cleveland Cavaliers' assistant trainer when the team drafted LeBron first overall in the 2003 NBA Draft. In 2007, Mike said Bron started asking him to go to his house the night before home games so they could do extra workouts. Last year, King James admitted he wouldn't have played two decades in the NBA without him.
"There's no way I'd be playing 20 seasons without him. It's literally that simple," James said , per Dave McMenamin of ESPN. "There's no way I'd be able to still be playing at this level without him. I mean, he's that essential to my game, to my performance, to everything that I do. To my mental. So, there's no way. I mean, I could have got 7-to-12 years of this. But 20? There's no way without him."
LeBron will add another year to his remarkable NBA career when the next season starts. He will become only the second player in league history, after Vince Carter, to play at least 22 years in the association. But while Carter was already running on fumes in Year 22, LeBron at last month's Olympics still looked like near peak form. And if you ask Mike Mancias, it has much to do with water.
Related: “Just be ready for the pitfalls and be ready for the adversity” - LeBron James reveals what he would tell his 20-year-old self
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