'I just played, that was my training': LeBron James reveals shocking truth about his early basketball days and how streetball forged his NBA legacy
Image via Getty Images
You don't need to follow basketball to know the name
LeBron James
. He's more than just a four-time champion or an MVP. He's a symbol of longevity, excellence, and defying limits. As he gears up for his 23rd NBA season, a record no player has ever touched,
James
recently pulled back the curtain on how it all began.
And surprisingly, it didn't involve elite training programs or high-priced coaches. His path started with something much simpler: the court, his friends, and the drive to play.
LeBron James built his game with no trainer and pure hustle on his rise to
NBA greatness
Appearing on the 'Mind the Game' podcast,
LeBron James
gave fans a glimpse into his unfiltered journey to basketball greatness. What he shared went against nearly every blueprint you hear about future NBA stars. 'I didn't have a basketball trainer until maybe my second, third, or even my fourth year in the league,' he revealed.
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Instead of structured practices or professional coaching, James sharpened his skills the old-fashioned way by being on the court constantly. 'I just played. That was my training,' he explained. Those countless hours of pickup ball in
Akron, Ohio,
helped him build not only his feel for the game but the creativity and instinct that would later become his signature style.
LeBron credits a childhood game he played with friends for the foundation of his dribbling and shot-making ability.
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'That's where I got my handle. That's how I learned to create shots,' he said, reflecting on how unstructured play shaped his development far more than drills or direction ever could. 'No one ever told me how to play,' he added, a line that perfectly sums up his self-made style.
Also Read:
LeBron James is not a fan of Bronny and Bryce James' basketball upbringing as he recalled his own journey to become an NBA legend
Now standing on the brink of his 23rd NBA season, James has logged an astounding 59,041 minutes on the hardwood while maintaining career averages of 27 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 7.6 assists. Of course, he's had help in recent years to keep his body sharp and his mind focused, surrounding himself with the right experts. But the game itself was his to figure out. LeBron James didn't follow a blueprint to become the best. He made his own.
Long before the NBA, there was just a kid, a ball, and a dream. And sometimes, that's all it takes.
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