Days Before Turning 39, LeBron James Exhibits Ultimate Desire to Win

With just a few hours left for the quarterfinals to begin, LeBron James is not taking any chances. His eyes are set on that spot in the semi-finals. Starting four hours before the tip-off, James has been getting his shots across. It seems the King is dead set on getting to Las Vegas, no shortcuts. Tonight’s game against the Phoenix Suns will be one of those matches where you cannot sit still.

It doesn’t matter whether you are a Suns fan or a Lakers fan, it’s hard not to get up screaming when watching some of the league’s finest at work.

LeBron James is up early and at them

McMenamin is out on the court and watching Bron taking shots one after another, without letting up. The ‘L Train’ will turn 39 on December 30, but watching him play or even work out will make one question if age really makes a difference.

James’ age has been a constant source of jokes. While he appreciates the good-natured fun, it is quite obvious that some of his feats still shock his teammates. Forget about his colleagues, it constantly amazes his own family to see what the King is capable of.

Be it an alley-oop dunk from a lob pass (courtesy of Reaves, because you have to give credit where it’s due), a monster dunk at the clutch or even the insane leaps – they are enough to make one wonder if the man is even human.

Of course, the human body is a wonder in itself. For an athlete like LeBron James, the strict workout regimen and discipline he follows are a major reason for his success. And more importantly, the mindset.

Mind over body and LeBron

With just 24 days to go, James will have fixed his position as the oldest active player in the NBA. Nobody seems to be in a hurry to let him go, either. In all these years, the ‘Akron Hammer’ has come across circumstances that called for exercising the presence of the mind.

Be it when facing harsh criticism or having to deal with failures, the ‘kid from Akron’ had learned this lesson early on. After his loss to Dallas in 2011, LeBron had said, “I knew that the physical side wouldn’t be enough…once I started to build the physical side and elevate the mental side of my approach, that’s when it changed for me.” Take a look at his closest friends and associates.

They all work with the same long-term mentality and keep their sights on the prize. Be it Rich Paul or Maverick Carter, the “King James” has ensured that he has a group of people that can always help him stay focused. Today, the 38-year-old holds multiple designations.

A father, husband, basketball legend, activist, philanthropist, and a businessman. Growing up with the bare necessities in seedier neighborhoods, a skinny kid had ambitions bigger than life. With the right guidance, support, and training (mental and physical), that kid had become the ‘Chosen One’.

Hopefully, he and the Lakers go on to win the first-of-its-kind in-season tournament trophy.

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