Steve Kerr and LeBron James have gone to war so often there's hardly anything one doesn't know about the other. However, as USA Basketball's training camp commenced in Las Vegas, there were a few things Kerr still didn't know about the man known as "The King," the biggest one being what it's like to coach him.
After leading the Golden State Warriors past LeBron's Cleveland Cavaliers in three of four straight showdowns in the NBA Finals, the former sharpshooter-turned-successful head coach finally gets to experience coaching the Lakers superstar as part of his USA Basketball duties. And while he has had his fair share of success against James on the court, Kerr admits that getting to coach him is a much more enjoyable experience than competing against him.
An incredible honor
One can only imagine how many sleepless nights Kerr must have had to formulate a viable game plan to slow down LeBron. After all, the man is a 6'9" wrecking ball with a supercomputer for a basketball mind. But now, as he stands on the sidelines with "The Chosen One" by his side, Kerr can't help but feel grateful for this opportunity.
"I just feel incredibly honored to be coaching LeBron, and it's definitely way better to coach him than coach against him. I can tell you that," the Warriors coach expressed , highlighting the mutual respect between the two.
Steve recently discovered one of the most inspiring things about LeBron is his unwavering passion for practice. Despite being in the league for 21 seasons, the effort that Kerr saw from the 20-time All-Star was reminiscent of a rookie trying to prove his worth.
"I was blown away by how hard he practices. And I went to Ty Lue and Erik Spoelstra, and I said, 'Is this normal?' They said, 'Every day, every day.' To Spo, I said, What about way back when you got him?' Spo said, 'Every day. Every drill, every walkthrough,'" Kerr narrated.
Related: When Bird predicted MJ would become the future of the NBA during his rookie year: "Pretty soon, this place will be packed every night, not just when the Celtics come to town"
Incredible work ethic
Kerr added there's a reason why LeBron and Golden State's resident superstar Steph Curry are all-time greats and soon-to-be first-ballot Hall of Famers: their relentless work ethic. As spectacular as they already are, Steve said they don't rest on their laurels and let their guard down; they stay disciplined, focused, and hungry to improve constantly.
"I think there's a reason those guys are two of the greatest of all time. It's not just the talent. It's the incredible work ethic. And the attention to detail and the force with which they practice translates to how they play in the games and to how their teams play because they lead the way," the former Chicago Bulls great shared.
LeBron echoed Kerr's sentiments, saying he's glad to have the latter as his coach on Team USA . There's also the matter of having the "Chef" as his point guard, whose shooting will likely provide LeBron all the space he needs to score and make plays for the Paris Olympics-bound American team.
"I'm happy to be on the same side as him right now, and also happy to be on the same side as his point guard as well with Steph being here too, so that's going to be pretty fun," "The King" remarked .
Team USA has won four straight gold medals in the Olympic basketball tournament. LeBron helped spearhead the Americans' rise back to the top with his role on the "Redeem Team" in 2008. Meanwhile, Kerr and Steph have yet to win an Olympic gold, as this is their first time representing the USA in the Olympics.
Related: Anthony Edwards on playing alongside LeBron, Steph, KD, and Tatum for Team USA: "I'm still the number one option"
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