Young LeBron James Once Dismissed Comparisons With Michael Jordan and NBA Greats With 8 Word Honesty

LeBron James was a worldwide sensation even before he stepped on the NBA hardwood. Before the social media world, James became a household name as a senior at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School. He even made it to the cover of Sports Illustrated at 17 and had several of his high school games televised on ESPN.

The journey from being “The Chosen One” to “The King” has indeed been a special one. But before he even played in an NBA game, he drew comparisons to several legends of the game. Many young prospects would have succumbed to the lofty expectations. However, LeBron forged his path and continued to strive for greatness.

In an interview with a young LeBron James in 2002, he displayed confidence in his potential and dismissed comparisons to NBA luminaries. When asked how it felt to be compared to these NBA legends, he said, “It makes me work even harder to get to the level that Magic, Michael, Bird, Julius, and now that Kobe and Tracy are in the league.”

He added, “It’s great to be compared to some of the greats. When I look at that, I want to be like Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson, not on the court, but off the court.”

James then issued an honest 8-word statement saying, “I think I’m setting the bar for myself.” He added, “I’m just going to keep working hard and keep doing what I’ve been doing for the last four years to get myself better. And the bar is going to be even higher if I keep working.” 

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A young LeBron James was brimming with confidence and talent, which have propelled him to the summit.

LeBron James is 37 years old but shows no signs of slowing down

LeBron James was the first overall pick in 2003. And, 19 seasons and several accolades later, “The King” does not appear to be slowing down. The legendary forward has won 4 NBA titles with 3 different teams, as well as four MVP awards in addition to countless other honors.

Throughout his career, LeBron has exemplified longevity. He has miraculously avoided serious injuries. James is now 37 and is coming off a season where he averaged 30.3 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 6.2 assists. We should all take a moment to appreciate the ridiculousness of that.

It’s unprecedented. Most other athletes’ performances begin to dip at this stage, if not before. However, James has continued to take excellent care of his body and has refined his game over the years. He may not have the freakish athleticism of his early days, but he is still extremely challenging to contain.

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LeBron James will now be entering his 20th season as an NBA player. And one might still expect him to put up monstrous numbers.