Derrick White was Cabo-bound when he got a call from his agent. And what he heard was beyond his belief. This was the beginning of White’s unforgettable experience over the summer playing for the USA Basketball team. What he experienced firsthand, especially about LeBron James, during his time with the team was beyond anything he could have imagined.

On The Young Man and the Three podcast, host Tommy Alter was curious to know what White had learned about superstars like LeBron, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant during his Olympic venture. White immediately described the experience as “cool,” noting that he had the opportunity to see them up close regularly. He stated that he got to witness the shots that they practiced which an opponent can only hear stories about. White also saw what makes these stars special and why they’ve been able to play at such a high level for so long and shared a specific moment involving LeBron that left him stunned.

“When we got to our 1st game in Abu Dhabi, like, we get to the locker room, and LeBron’s out here passing out towels to everybody,” the Celtics guard said. “I’m like, this is LeBron James here doing stuff like that. And, like, I know rookies that’d be upset, like, if you ask them to do that.” The 30-year-old couldn’t believe it when he saw a legendary figure like LeBron James passing out jerseys and towels to his teammates—a task that, according to White, many younger players would shy away from. But for White, this simple act was a testament to the humility that defines the four-time champion.

After all, it was LeBron who showed faith in White’s defensive and offensive abilities when his inclusion in the Team USA roster was in question. As reported by MassLive, LeBron said, “What can Derrick White add? His poise, his ability to guard, his ability to shoot the ball.” This clearly highlights why LeBron is the leader that others look up to.

LeBron James reflects on his leadership mindset

Following the 131-114 defeat against the Grizzlies, Lakers head coach JJ Redick praised LeBron’s effort but was clearly unhappy with the lackluster performance of the other players. While the rest of the team struggled to reach even 20 points, except Austin Reaves, LeBron put up 39 points and refused to give up, despite the team’s overall shortcomings.

After the loss, LeBron said, “At the end of the day, especially when you lose bodies, you got to compete.” He further added that one needs to “even harder” especially then. “You got to be out there giving it everything that you got and on both ends. I think there were times that we did that, but the majority of the time, I don’t think we sustained energy and effort.”

LeBron’s commitment to his personal brilliance and the growth of others around him shows why he’s the locker room leader. Despite being in the twilight of his career, LeBron continues to defy the odds and that is something that will keep his team in the playoff mix, no matter the circumstances.