Latest news with #MINDTHEGAME
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'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. The Luka Dončić Interview (Part 1) | LeBron James & Steve Nash | MIND THE GAME 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Anvisa aprova solução para ajudar a reduzir gordura visceral da barriga em 7 dias! Você Mais Saudável Hoje Saiba Mais Undo '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.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
LeBron James is not a fan of Bronny and Bryce James' basketball upbringing as he recalled his own journey to become an NBA legend
has built one of the greatest careers in NBA history, but as he reflects on his path to stardom, he's starting to question how different things have been for his sons, Bronny and Bryce James. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While both are highly-touted prospects with national exposure, their father believes their basketball upbringing lacked the raw, unfiltered foundation that shaped his own rise from Akron's streets to global fame. James didn't hold back when talking about it. LeBron James says kids today are over-programmed including Bronny and Bryce James During a recent episode of the Mind the Game podcast, LeBron James opened up about what separates his generation from the path his sons and other young athletes are taking now. The four-time NBA champion admitted that while Bronny and Bryce had opportunities he never dreamed of, they missed out on something fundamental that was James' luxury— freedom and play. 'Very rarely. Yeah. Very rarely, you know,' LeBron said, when asked if his sons played pickup games outside like he used to. 'They did play outside a little bit but mostly it's indoors.' The Luka Dončić Interview (Part 1) | LeBron James & Steve Nash | MIND THE GAME Having spent most of their childhood in South Florida and Southern California, the James brothers had warm weather year-round. However, LeBron pointed out, the issue wasn't the climate, it was the culture around youth sports today. 'There was no reason for them not to be outside. I get it if they… grew up in Northeast Ohio where you have four seasons and it's hard to get on the outdoor court… but it's just not the thing,' he explained. The 21-time All-Star further asserted how important it was for kids to experience a variety of sports and now, it is a far cry from today's youth programs that push specialization early. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Today, multi-sport experiences like football or track are no longer encouraged. 'You burn the hell out… They start, you know, they say, 'F*** the hell with it. I'm done. I don't even want to play no more,'' James said. Back in his own youth, LeBron and his friends played multiple sports including, football, basketball, track, and often just for fun. That variety, he believes, kept them engaged and passionate. 'We didn't just cap it at one thing… I don't think putting a cap on these kids… they should be able to just explore, man.' Also Read: The King has every reason to believe that his rise in the basketball scene and the dominance over the years stemmed from the variations he experienced in different sports he played in his younger days. Of course, James is one of the greatest NBA stars of all time, if not the best, and his legacy will forever be marked in the history of the league with golden words.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
What does Luka Doncic hate about Los Angeles? LeBron James finally got to know one dislike of the Slovenian star's Lakers tenure
The NBA midseason trade of Luka Doncic, from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers, was a blockbuster deadline deal that saw Anthony Davis head to Dallas. While the trade surprised many, the Slovenian star quickly settled into his new home. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Doncic's stellar on-court performance was unchanged, but his off-court reflections revealed something quite specific he dislikes about L.A., and even couldn't argue with him. Luka Doncic revealed what he hates most about Los Angeles Ocean views and star-studded crowds can't mask this one L.A. flaw for Luka Doncic. Since landing in Los Angeles, Doncic has become more than just the Lakers' newest face, he's already left a mark. Over 28 regular-season games in purple and gold, he averaged an impressive 28.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game, with sharp shooting splits across the board. In the postseason, he elevated his play even more, putting up 30.2 points, 7 rebounds, and 5.8 assists over five playoff games before the Lakers fell to the Timberwolves in the opening round. The Luka Dončić Interview (Part 1) | LeBron James & Steve Nash | MIND THE GAME Despite that strong showing, it's life off the court that gives Doncic mixed feelings about his new city. During a recent appearance on the Mind the Game podcast, hosted by none other than his Lakers teammate LeBron James and NBA legend Steve Nash, Doncic opened up about the highs and lows of L.A. life. "This is the first city I play in that has an ocean, and I really like the ocean,' Doncic shared, clearly enjoying his proximity to the coast. 'First thing, I mean, after a couple days, that was the first thing on my mind, you know. It's a lot. I like it, I like it very much." But he didn't hold back from highlighting the one thing he absolutely can't stand, of course, it's the nightmare of most people— traffic . 'The only, the only thing is, is the traffic,' he added with a sigh. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now It's a sentiment many Angelenos share and one LeBron James quickly nodded along to. Even amid the headaches of bumper-to-bumper gridlock, with Los Angeles ranked third in the U.S. for hours lost in traffic in 2024, per the Global Traffic Scorecard, Doncic has found silver linings. He added that Lakers games always host famous people in the crowd. That energy, along with the warm beaches, helps balance the frustration. Also Read: Doncic's new NBA journey with the Lakers has just started, and the 26-year-old is looking to come back strong, as he was already seen in the best shape.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Luka Doncic was shocked to see LeBron James arrive 10 hours before a game: 'I have never played with a guy like this'
Image credit: Mind The Game Luka Doncic has revealed how he was left in shock—or say awe—when he found out LeBron James hits the venue ten hours before the game. The two Los Angeles Lakers stars gave their fans something to munch on during the offseason as they united on Mind The Game podcast on Sunday. During the heartwarming chat, Doncic revealed what he learnt from senior player James on the court and much more. Luka Doncic shares his experience of playing with LeBron James Luka Doncic minced no words as he went on to share his experience of joining LeBron James on the court after being traded from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers in a shocking trade. When host Steve Nash asked Doncic about playing with James, Doncic said on Mind The Game podcast, "It's great, I've never played with a guy like this. Being traded to L.A., it was different, but to be able to play with guys like him, it's unbelievable. I can learn so much stuff, first of all off the court, all the things he does to be ready for the game. And obviously on the court everybody knows what kind of player he is." The Luka Dončić Interview (Part 1) | LeBron James & Steve Nash | MIND THE GAME When Nash asked Doncic if there was something specific about James that surprised him, Doncic revealed, "First of all he shows up like 10 hours before the game. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo That was really the main thing, like I was like, 'What?' I came to the arena and he was already done working out." Lakers fans were blessed to watch the two together after such a long time. Reacting to the podcast, a fan wrote, 'I wish these two guys wins championships together.' Another said, 'How blessed are we to be able to listen to these three brilliant basketball minds talk basketball. This Sunday afternoon got a lot better.' One more said, 'Iconic! Good to see Luka on the pod.' A fan also joked, 'Here to watch Micheal Finley walk in & take Luka's glass of wine. (Joking) This cool to see these three talk about the game.' Also Read: LeBron James talks Luka Doncic's impact as Los Angeles Lakers stars unite on Mind The Game podcast LeBron James is currently at home with his family and is yet to share anything about his future plans. Luka Doncic is also at home but not in the mood to sit idle. His fans noticed he was looking a lot slimmer when he was recently spotted at a Real Madrid game in Spain. He will also be playing for his home team to make good use of the offseason.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Sport
- Time of India
LeBron James talks about Luka Doncic's impact as Los Angeles Lakers stars unite on Mind The Game podcast
Amid the NBA Finals, which don't feature the biggest teams, Los Angeles Lakers stars and Luka Doncic got together to talk about basketball, the trade, and how they feel about each other. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now James was full of praise for Doncic as he spoke about the latter's strengths following his shocking trade from the Dallas Mavericks to the Los Angeles Lakers. LeBron James praises Luka Doncic on Mind The Game podcast LeBron James and Luka Doncic delighted fans with a joint appearance on the Mind The Game podcast. Talking about what he liked about Doncic, James said on the podcast, 'It has always been his pace. He moves at his own pace, and he's never been on the floor where he's allowed someone to dictate where they're going to put him on the floor. It's always been the opposite, and for us, we're all working off that. We just have to stay ready. ' The Luka Dončić Interview (Part 1) | LeBron James & Steve Nash | MIND THE GAME Further elaborating on Doncic's strengths and how he adds value to the team, James added, "Obviously we've seen throughout his career there's plays and passes that only certain guys in the league history have ever been able to make, and for us we just all have to make sure we continue to stay ready. Especially when you go against handsy teams, athletic teams and teams that try to speed you up. We always have to keep our head on a swivel, because you just never know when the ball may find you, and that's a good thing. That's keeping the defense off balance, and that's a great thing to have that." The offseason began early for the Los Angeles Lakers. While James and Doncic delivered some fantastic entertainment during the playoffs, the team still made an early exit in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. James has been active on podcasts, whereas Doncic mostly stayed out of the spotlight, reappearing when he was spotted at a Real Madrid game in Spain. Also Read: Doncic will also be playing basketball in the offseason, as the Lakers have allowed him to represent his home team in Slovenia. A coach from the Lakers will be sent with him when he plays in August.
