Since he arrived in the league, LeBron James has exceeded any expectations fans have had for him. His 20-year long career has been full of numerous accolades and record-breaking performances. And even former NBA sharpshooter JJ Redick agrees to that fact as he reminisced about a young 18-year-old LBJ and what he had to go through during his first year in the league.

LeBron James was touted to be the next Michael Jordan. Whether he surpassed MJ or not, The Chosen One surely made a name for himself in the GOAT debate.

JJ Redick talks about LeBron James’ rookie season

LeBron James went to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2003 NBA draft. The team had won merely 17 games the past season to which they were awarded the number one pick. The pick turned out to be one of the greatest players to ever grace the game of basketball.

Recently, JJ Redick talked about LeBron James and his rookie season on the latest episode of his podcast. Redick said, “I think, by all accounts, LeBron lived up to the hype.”

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“I was researching this thing and I came across this great, great quote from Paul Silas. He talks about how essentially LeBron’s teammates hated him. He says, ‘Their egos wouldn’t allow it. ‘You have a chance to help one of the game’s future stars’ but they wouldn’t embrace him’.”

“‘If it bothered LeBron,” Redick continues, “he never let on. We won 35 games that year because of him. He’s had some outstanding seasons since then, but that first one may have been the most impressive because of how he excelled despite the jealousy on his team’.”

LeBron’s greatness over the years

LeBron James was labeled as The Chosen One during his rookie season by major media outlets. And, indeed, his teammates were not quite fond of the fact that the front office went on to draft him.

However, James did not let that bother him and went on to climb the ladder year in and year out. He even led the team to the 2007 NBA Finals singlehandedly. Even former Washington Wizards All-Star Gilbert Arenas took his side when discussing the GOAT debate.

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James has done everything in his power to rise through the ranks and solidify his name in the history books. And when it’s all said and done, the world will reminiscence LeBron James’ impact on the game.