Los Angeles Lakers star forward LeBron James went viral on Tuesday after revealing the strict dietary changes he implemented to begin his unprecedented 23rd NBA season.
However, it appears Indiana Fever star Caitlin Clark will not be following a similar routine to try to extend her WNBA career one day.
Caitlin Clark Comically Lauds LeBron James for ‘Giving Up’ Cookies
On Tuesday’s edition of “Mind the Game,” James’ podcast co-host Steve Nash began by asking the four-time NBA champion to weigh in on reports that he “stopped drinking” this season.
James then clarified the timeline of his “sacrifice,” explaining that it coincided with his early-season absence, before adding that he also put his passion for desserts on hold.
The 41-year-old was forced to miss all of training camp, preseason, and the first 14 games of his 23rd campaign due to sciatica that affected his lower back down to the right side of his body.
“I wasn’t playing, obviously, as the season started, so I needed to give up something,” James said. “I gotta sacrifice something, and I actually did [sacrifice] two things that I very [much] love, and that is drinking wine and my chocolate chip cookies for dessert. I completely took it out.
“… I was like, ‘Alright, I gotta take something out, I gotta sacrifice something, and for the whole month of November, I’mma do no desserts and no wine, no liquor, no nothing.’
“… I did that, and I actually went all the way — once I got to December, I was like, ‘Oh,’ and I kept going. I didn’t have my first drink and my first piece of dessert until New Year’s, New Year’s night, so I ended up going basically two months.”
LeBron James reveals his two biggest sacrifices to start his historic 23rd NBA season. pic.twitter.com/YLsPpdDekW
— StatHunter (@stat_hunter) February 18, 2026
The four-time MVP’s answer promptly went viral on social media, with Clark delivering a humorous reaction to his forgoing cookies in an Instagram comment section.
“I’d rather retire than do this,” Clark wrote. “This is why he’s him.”
Caitlin Clark reacts to LeBron James giving up cookies to begin Year 23 😂 pic.twitter.com/0XUJmxjS6I
— StatHunter (@stat_hunter) February 18, 2026
James’ commitment to his craft has resulted in him playing the most games (regular season and playoffs) of any player in NBA history (1,890 contests and counting). Meanwhile, he is still performing at an elite level past the typical retirement age, earning his record-extending 22nd All-Star selection this year.
On the flip side, Clark has suited up in a total of 55 regular-season and postseason outings over her first two seasons, cementing herself as one of the WNBA’s brightest stars. However, injuries limited her to just 13 appearances in Year 2.
While the 24-year-old has no plans to follow James’ lead, the Lakers icon also acknowledged the struggles of avoiding his favorite stress-relieving foods.
“The chocolate chip cookie part, but the ice cream is probably the hardest,” James joked. “Well, the wine, too, ’cause not playing and being a little stressed, I maybe wanted a glass here, a glass there, but it was good to give my body a break.”
