Imagine being the coach of one of the best basketball players ever. Just as he’s starting to make waves, it can feel like a nightmare. But some coaches embrace the challenge and take it head-on. That’s what sets them apart, just like Keith Dambrot did with LeBron James.
James didn’t go to college. He went straight to St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. His numbers were sky-high early on, and the spotlight found him fast. When Keith Dambrot first brought him in, things were shaky. Dambrot made his presence known, and James wasn’t expecting it.
When Keith Dambrot Kicked LeBron James Out of Practice
Talking on the “Mind the Game Podcast” with Luka Dončić and Steve Nash, James shared a story that brought him back down to earth. After a dominant freshman season, James said Keith Dambrot reminded him he wasn’t above the team.
James said, “Coach D was out of his mind. He was a lunatic. He just finally retired from coaching last year at Duquesne. But you know, like my freshman year I made all-county, all-city, all-state. We didn’t lose a game in my freshman year. We won a state championship. I was state championship, MVP for the tournament. So I come in, first practice in my sophomore year.”
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He went on, “I am kind of feeling myself a little bit. We won it all. I am getting a little praise, whatever. First day of practice of my sophomore year, and he kicked me out of practice, just to put the marker down. He looked at me and said, ‘best sophomore in the country, my a**. Get the f*** out of here.’ I was obviously pissed off like ‘the fk is wrong, he’s picking on me.’ But he set the tone.
“He set the tone for that season, it’s like, ‘I’m not going even allow you to even think about getting overly confident or having a big head coming here. This sh*t is not about you. It’s about what we are trying to build.’”
James owned high school basketball. He won the OHSAA state championship three times. He also won the Ohio Mr. Basketball title three times, was the Gatorade National Player of the Year twice, made the USA Today All-USA First Team three times, and was the Naismith Prep Player of the Year and Morgan Wootten National POY Award winner in 2003.
He appeared on the cover of Slam Magazine in 2002 and was dubbed “The Chosen One” on the cover of Sports Illustrated the same year.
James Might Be Coming Back for the Next Season
While talking to ESPN, James hinted at what’s ahead for the Lakers. He talked about preparing for training camp in late September and what’s on his mind heading into another year. He also shut down a few retirement rumors.
James said, “I have a lot of time to take care of my injury, my knee, the rest of my body, and make sure I’m as close to 100 percent as possible when training camp begins in late September. At this point of my career, you think about when the end is. That’s human nature. You think, is it this year? Or next year? Those thoughts always creep into your mind at this point of the journey.”
Once LeBron James retires from the NBA, ESPN would love to hire him to be an analyst. https://t.co/GYWUX9naZK pic.twitter.com/r4wUboMiAb
— LeBron Wire (@LeBron_Wire) June 15, 2025
If he comes back for another season, it would be nothing short of historic. A 23rd season in the NBA would put him in Tom Brady territory. And from the sound of it, James might be ready to wear the Lakers jersey one more time. He’s also made it clear he won’t be heading into coaching when his playing days are done. So if this ends up being his last season, fans will want to take in every moment.
