LeBron James Bemoans Commercialization of Youth Sports in America Citing His Own Example

Discussing with Luka Doncic how youth sports shaped his basketball outlook, LeBron James raised a touchy subject.

LeBron James Bemoans Commercialization of Youth Sports in America Citing His Own Example

LeBron James (Image via Instagram)

One of the reasons that basketball fans were overjoyed after LeBron James announced his podcast is that the Lakers superstar is an everyman. Like the average sports fan, James also lives and dies by the hot take. He is capable of being spicy while also showing his sports IQ, no matter the situation. James’ NFL fandom proves how dedicated he can be to following sports other than basketball.

Getting to hear from LeBron James on not just his basketball experience, but also his life as a disadvantaged Ohio youth growing up in a single-parent household, can be really a real eye-opener. James shed some light on this on an episode of Mind the Game with Steve Nash, with Luka Doncic as a guest. He lamented how every youth sport setup currently in the USA has now become commercialized and for-profit. James cited his own kids Bryce and Bronny James’ examples, noting how they didn’t ball at the park.

Very rarely. They did play outside a little bit, but mostly it’s indoors. In the majority of their time growing up, my kids lived in south Florida, lived in south California. So there was no reason for them not to be outside. I get it if the majority of the time they grew up in northeast Ohio, where you have four seasons and it’s hard to get on the outdoor court where it’s six inches of snow or it’s raining crazy.

LeBron James said

He then described his own experience and that of other elite young athletes who were millennials and Gen X’ers.

Me and my guys, we ran track and field as well, when we were super duper young. We played football – American football – all the way through high school. We didn’t just cap it at one thing and just did one thing all year round. I think a lot of kids, they burn the hell out. You play any sport all year round, you burn out at 22, 23, 24, you know. Then it starts ‘F*** the hell with it, I’m done with it.’

LeBron James continued

LeBron James describes his experience with a basketball trainer

Given how great his reading of the court is, it is perhaps surprising that James didn’t work with a specialist basketball trainer till after he made it to the NBA. Although James was from a financially disadvantaged background, he had all eyes on him at age 15. He could very easily have chosen to work with a renowned coach, at an academy of his choosing. Instead, he played multiple sports and worked on his game alone.

I didn’t have a basketball trainer until second, third, maybe fourth year in the NBA. My basketball training was just being on the court. Let’s just go hoop. Let’s go 5-on-5, or 2-on-2, or 3-on-3. Or like a game we played when we were growing up. It was called 33 or 21. It’s one man for himself, and you could be guarded by all your friends and if I score, I go to the free throw line, I shoot two free throws and I get it back. And that’s how a lot of creation started, with me being able to dribble around three or four guys, go behind the back.

LeBron James on how he honed his skills

His natural talent and basketball IQ allowed James to postpone adding specializations and specific skills to his game. It’s the reason why he hasn’t burnt out despite playing 22 NBA seasons.