“I’m Only 20-Years-Old, Been Through This Stuff a Lot”: When LeBron James Quickly Became the Next Michael Jordan After Embracing the “Spotlight”

LeBron James is considered by many to be one of the greatest basketball players ever to set foot on the court. James has been dominating the NBA for a good part of two decades now. ‘The King’ has arguably revolutionized the game and has already broken several records along the way. James is still going strong at age 37, and it seems like he has beaten time itself with his longevity.

He will be entering his 20th season in the NBA this year. James has been in the spotlight for the majority of his life. In an interview from 2005, James, at a young age, reveals how the spotlight and attention don’t bother him.

LeBron James was drafted in 2003 by the Cleveland Cavaliers. Since his rookie campaign, James has been a dominant force in the NBA. He played for the Cavs for over six years before signing with the Miami Heat in 2011, where he teamed up with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. James won two championships during his tenure in Miami.

After a successful run, he returned to the Cavs in 2015. From 2015 to 2018, ‘The King’ made it to the Finals each year and battled it out with the Golden State Warriors. In a historic Game 7 performance in 2016, James won his third title against the Warriors in arguably one of the greatest Finals comebacks in the history of the league.

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After signing with the Los Angeles Lakes,?James landed in Hollywood in 2019. And the duo of Anthony Davis and LeBron James would win the championship in 2020. And James is still going strong, averaging almost mind-boggling stats at this stage of his career.

LeBron James has never run from the spotlight

LeBron James has been under the spotlight for the majority of his life now. Ever since he started dominating his school games, the attention from the basketball community has never died down.

The hype around LeBron James in the early 2000s was historic and unprecedented. Before ever playing a single minute in an NBA game, LeBron James was being offered millions in endorsements and deals. Notably, Reebok once approached him with a sneaker deal and offered him millions to not accept any other offer.

But James declined the deal, betting on his ability to attract a more lucrative offer in the future. The seats to his high school games were being sold at over $100.

The spotlight and attention have been a constant in LeBron James’ life. Before entering the league, he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated as ‘The Chosen One.’ Fans were already crowning him as the next Michael Jordan. When asked about his mindset on dealing with the spotlight, James replied,?“Even though I’m only 20 years old, I’ve kind of been through this stuff a lot. Been through the spotlight, been on the cover of the magazines since about junior high. I kind of know the ins and outs of everything.”?

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Ever since entering the league, LeBron James has undoubtedly exceeded all expectations. The kid from Akron, Ohio, has experienced success in the NBA, unlike any other player. In the past 20 years, the four-time NBA champion has certainly cemented himself among the greats.?