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via Reuters
Basketball – Basketball Showcase Game – United States v Australia – Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – July 15, 2024 LeBron James of the U.S. during the game REUTERS/Amr Alfiky
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/2024-07-15T183125Z_1970144556_UP1EK7F1FGBEI_RTRMADP_3_OLYMPICS-2024-BASKETBALL-US-AUSTRALIA.jpg?width=600)
via Reuters
Basketball – Basketball Showcase Game – United States v Australia – Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates – July 15, 2024 LeBron James of the U.S. during the game REUTERS/Amr Alfiky
Not so long ago, LeBron James saved Team USA from embarrassment against South Sudan. The Lakers superstar ran down the lane to drop a game-winning layup and shut shop in style. He went up against two defenders and made the tough layup with his right hand. It’s quite easy to argue that the right hand is King James’ dominant one. But what if I tell you, the superstar is a lefty? Confusing, right? All your life, you must have witnessed the 4x Champion make his buckets in his right hand. In fact, he is ambidextrous.
Every once in a while, the debate around James’ dominant hand pops up. This time, it’s because of a viral video from the Team USA camp. Following the dramatic win against South Sudan, they released a video compilation of the stars, preparing for their next game. One of the segments included the players having a challenge of making free throws with their non-dominant hands. Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis, and Tyrese Haliburton attempted a shot with their left hand and couldn’t make a swish.
Meanwhile, James crowned himself with a swish in his right hand. This immediately left the fans, scratching their heads. However, there is a brief history behind this. LeBron James has already claimed himself to be a left-handed person. And that, he also developed his right-hand game because of his high school coach, who taught him to make right-hand layups. As a matter of fact, this happened during his first-ever practice session, and he’s worked on it since then.
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Moreover, there’s another interesting factor behind is right-hand game. During a press conference in 2017, King James revealed how Michael Jordan and Penny Hardaway inspired him to play in right hand. He said, “I don’t know how I became a right-handed basketball player. I think it’s probably Michael Jordan, Penny Hardaway, guys I looked up to growing up. Seeing those guys shooting righty, so I said I guess I’ll shoot righty.”
Divided opinions surface on social media after the latest clarity on LeBron James’ ambidexterity
While the loyal LeBron James fans took it as yet another achievement, neutral fans didn’t seem to go easy on this. They ganged up on the superstar and called him out for lying. A fan made a blatant accusation, writing, “He Riggs everything” in the social media comments. Recently, King James got caught up with the naysayers when Bronny James made it to the Lakers unit. It’s like opening a can of worms with that headline, after all the media outbursts over the past few months, so, let’s leave that there.
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Some sections of fans raised nepotism concerns and accused the superstar of rigging the draft. Notably, there isn’t any proof for either of the accusations, and it’s just speculation. A few others trolled him, “Add it to the list of LeBron lying for no reason.” This fan even shared a video compilation of James contradicting himself, to prove that the superstar lies. And another comment read, “Bruh knows that he right handed!!!!”.
Add it to the list of LeBron lying for no reason pic.twitter.com/tOgaiBBvjg
— meowtow (@meowtow) July 21, 2024
What’s your perspective on:
Does LeBron's ambidexterity make him the most versatile player in NBA history?
Have an interesting take?
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However, some fans even tried to defend the superstar, saying that the left hand was his dominant hand. They even went to the extent where they claimed that LeBron James writes with his left hand. This fan wrote, “He’s a lefty so he’s always shot with his “off hand” but I do get how seeing him always shoot right and here not shooting with his left can seem off.”
Nevertheless, it was immediately squashed with a response, saying, “bro hes been shooting with his right for 40 years stop the cap nobody cares if he writes left lol.” This is a never-ending debate unless and until the man himself clarifies the fans’ doubts about settling it. Do you think LeBron James is actually left-handed? Let us know in the comments below.
Debate
Does LeBron's ambidexterity make him the most versatile player in NBA history?