LeBron James, fresh off his MVP performance for the gold medal-winning U.S. team at the Olympics, sat down with the media Monday as the Los Angeles Lakers ' 2024-25 season is fast approaching.
The Lakers play their first preseason game Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, California. The first game of the regular season is Oct. 22 when the Lakers will also face the Timberwolves in Los Angeles.
It should be a fascinating beginning to the season as two major storylines will be in play. The Lakers will have a new coach in JJ Redick, and the Lakers drafted LeBron's son Bronny James which foreshadows the potential of a father and son playing in the same NBA game for the first time ever.
Here are the five most interesting things LeBron James said during his media day interview Monday from the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo, California:
Los Angeles Lakers' Bronny James shares what it's like to play with LeBron, his dad
On being on same team with Bronny
"If you have kids especially at my age and his age, it's not really much interaction going on on a day-to-day basis. I mean he comes down. He eats. Goes to his room. Plays his video game. You know, I'm down there with my wife, we're watching a movie, he'll stop in. So it's not like 'Meet me at the table at 5 o'clock we need to discuss work tomorrow.' That doesn't happen. But he's been in this realm of the game of basketball since he was born obviously. I've been playing in the NBA longer than he's been alive so he understands the nuances of it as far as just being around the game. But now he's a man and it's time for him to learn and get better with that. But I'm super happy for him. Our family is super proud of him. If we get a couple opportunities out on the floor throughout the season, obviously that's going to be amazing. It'll be awesome. We'll wait for that moment when it happens and then go from there."
Energy level entering 22nd NBA season, will this be his last?
"I'm definitely not as beat up as I was last year at this time. I feel good, had a great summer, body has responded very well (to the Olympic journey). Feel really good physically. Feel really good mentally. Sharp. Fresh. Looking forward to get to work tomorrow. Have not thought about what the future holds. I just live in the moment. Especially with Bronny being here too, I don't want to take this moment for granted. I never give myself an opportunity to just take in the moments. But this is a moment I can enjoy."
On the rejuvenating nature of Olympic gold
"It felt daaaamn good to play meaningful basketball. Like literally play for the highest level, we had like two game 7s back to back -- one vs. Serbia and one vs. France where it was like, 'Oh (bleep). This is why those text messages went out. This is why those calls happened.' That fire and desire was brought back to me where I was like 'OK this is why we all came together'. To have that feeling again where you're playing like meaningful ... every possession means something. If you make a mistake it burns you, things like that, that was good to relive that moment."
What his Olympic effort showed him
"When you're along 11 other great talents, some of the best talent we've ever seen, it gives you a lot of joy to be able to play the game, play it at a high level, push each other. For myself individually, to go out there at my age with the miles that I have and to be able to play at the level I played at. It gave me like even more of a sense of 'I do have a lot in the tank. A lot. And I can help a big part of a team win the ultimate prize whether it's a gold medal or the Larry O'Brien Trophy. I can still get it done.'"
On new coach JJ Redick
"We haven't really got to work yet. We haven't actually had practice, but I know from being alongside him and having our (podcast), and him being a competitor, I know he's super-detailed when it comes to that. Going against him in the past, that's what it's all about. Putting the work in and being detailed. Knowing exactly what we're going to do when we're out on the floor not only in game situations but in practice, film sessions, everything. That's something I know that he (can do)."
Shad Powers is a columnist for The Desert Sun. Reach him at shad.powers@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Los Angeles Lakers media day: LeBron James' 5 most interesting takes entering 22nd NBA season
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