One would think that LeBron James’ unrivaled list of accolades, accomplishments, and statistical records, speaks for itself. It would seem that he would not be unduly bothered by social media criticism.
Still, he hit back at criticism about elements of his game on his “Mind the Game” podcast that he co-hosts with Hall of Fame point guard and former Nets Coach Steve Nash. In this episode, their special guest is Luka Dončić.
James went after his critics: “I’ll be on social media like, ‘LeBron has no bag,’ and I’m sitting like…50 billion points, right? Leading scorer all-time in the NBA — no bag?…play the game the right way.” That has always been James’ primary mindset: To play the game the right way to help his team.
Despite his surprising sensitivity to social media, James’ words in this segment are a valuable teaching moment for aspiring NBA players. James discusses in-depth the players he looked up to when modeling his game after. As well as giving a pointed lesson to the younger generation. Who better to learn from than, arguably, the greatest of all time?
LeBron James Hits Back At Critics of His Game
James is a basketball savant; his IQ in any given moment on the court is through the roof. Whatever he chooses to do on the court, he’ll do what it takes to help his team win.
When asked to be a facilitator, he’ll lead the league in assists. When asked to carry the scoring load, he does as well as any, despite his age. His on-court IQ, power, and skill, combined with his longevity, set him apart.
When he gives advice, it’s a good idea to listen.
During the segment, he discussed whom he modeled his game after and refuted the idea that you need to dribble the air out of the ball to be a great scorer. For instance, he’s the all-time points leader, but he’s entirely selfless as a player.
“When I grew up watching efficiency, Michael Jordan wasn’t out there dribbling a thousand times to get to the spot,” James said. “He’d get to a spot, right, and raise. Isaiah Thomas — as great a handle as Isaiah Thomas had — Isaiah would get to a spot and raise. All these guys that I grew up with.”
James goes on to mention players he modeled his scoring game after, such as New York Knicks iconic guard Allan Houston, Detroit Pistons player Grant Hill, and Penny Hardaway. He was also inspired by Kevin Garnett’s footwork when beating players to score the ball.
“Garnett — it’s good footwork,” James said. “Get good footwork, get over the top. If I’m bigger than you and I get you on my shoulder or my hip, I’m going to use my size.”
What James is pointing out is that it’s not the amount you dribble; it’s about mastering your strengths and footwork, and getting to your ideal spot on the floor.
Some players differ in style from James. For instance, take elite isolation scorers such as Jalen Brunson, Dončić, and James Harden. Yet, there is more than one way to skin a cat. In their cases, their footwork is considered elite, and they are masters at finding their spot on the floor.
James Shares A Lesson For The Younger Generation
James refutes the notion that to be successful in the modern game, one must have incredible handles and skills offensively. Not every player will possess a ball-handling skill set, but they can still be valuable to their team.
“I hope that our generation, our younger generation, don’t get swamped by saying, ‘Okay, I need a bag, I need a bag,'” James said. “Like, work on your game. Know what you’re going to be good at to help the team and prove the next year to be a better player. Come in, you defend, you get extra possessions, you get extra rebounders for the guys, okay? And then next year, you work on your game in the offseason.”
James emphasizes prioritizing the fundamentals of the game, being a good teammate, and, in the offseason, continuing to develop their offensive games. He also had positive words for how valuable “3&D” wings are in the NBA that do not need the ball to be successful: “You can make $200 million in the NBA if you defend and shoot a corner three-pointer.”
