Rare footage shows 17-year-old LeBron James’ emphatic response to Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson comparison
LeBron James appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a 16-year-old. His reputation as the next big thing was so firmly entrenched that he skipped college entirely and still went to the Cleveland Cavaliers with the No. 1 pick in 2003. LeBron gave a candid interview about his NBA dreamsX @LeBronTeam Being compared to NBA icons Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan would be a huge burden for anybody to shoulder, especially a 17-year-old. But LeBron is built different. In one interview before entering the league, the teen who would be King showed maturity and confidence beyond his years. “It makes me work even harder to get to the level of Magic, Michael, [Larry] Bird, Julius [Erving], and now Kobe [Bryant] and Tracy [McGrady] in the league now,” he said of the comparisons. “Everyone in there, when they was younger, wanted to fly like Jordan, wanted to dish no-look passes like Magic, wanted to jump out the gym like Julius, wanted to shoot like Bird. “It’s great to be compared to greats. And when I look at that I say I want to be like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, not on the court, but off the court.” LeBron was asked if the bar was being set too high so early in his career. “I think I’m setting the bar for myself,” he added. “I’m just going to keep working hard, keep doing what I’ve been doing for the last four years to get myself better. The bar gonna be even higher if I can keep working.” LeBron’s attitude toward headlines was also that of a man far exceeding his years. LeBron scored 38 points days after turning 40 He is the only man to suit up alongside his son in the NBAGetty “If you just do what you been doing, don’t change, you might read the clippings, you gonna read everything about yourself and your teammates but when the clippings are down, you got to come back to yourself and realise who you are,” he said. “I’m LeBron James and that’s not gonna change.” Some 24 years later and LeBron is still grinding. Days after his 40th birthday, he tied Jordan’s all-time record with his 672nd 30-plus point game. Questions are being asked about a potential retirement, after all LeBron’s son Bronny is old enough to share the court with him. But the Los Angeles Lakers superstar, who has four NBA Championships, is not done yet. “It won’t be because I can’t play this game at a high level,” he said when quizzed on what could make him call it a day. “To be honest, if I really wanted to, I could probably play this game at a high level for another five to seven years if I wanted to, but I’m not gonna do that.” As a 17-year-old, LeBron responded to comparisons with two basketball icons by name-dropping a few more greats just for good measure. He talks the talk, and will continue to walk the walk until he decides it’s time to abdicate the throne.
LeBron James appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a 16-year-old.
His reputation as the next big thing was so firmly entrenched that he skipped college entirely and still went to the Cleveland Cavaliers with the No. 1 pick in 2003.
Being compared to NBA icons Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan would be a huge burden for anybody to shoulder, especially a 17-year-old.
But LeBron is built different.
In one interview before entering the league, the teen who would be King showed maturity and confidence beyond his years.
“It makes me work even harder to get to the level of Magic, Michael, [Larry] Bird, Julius [Erving], and now Kobe [Bryant] and Tracy [McGrady] in the league now,” he said of the comparisons.
“Everyone in there, when they was younger, wanted to fly like Jordan, wanted to dish no-look passes like Magic, wanted to jump out the gym like Julius, wanted to shoot like Bird.
“It’s great to be compared to greats. And when I look at that I say I want to be like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, not on the court, but off the court.”
LeBron was asked if the bar was being set too high so early in his career.
“I think I’m setting the bar for myself,” he added.
“I’m just going to keep working hard, keep doing what I’ve been doing for the last four years to get myself better. The bar gonna be even higher if I can keep working.”
LeBron’s attitude toward headlines was also that of a man far exceeding his years.
“If you just do what you been doing, don’t change, you might read the clippings, you gonna read everything about yourself and your teammates but when the clippings are down, you got to come back to yourself and realise who you are,” he said.
“I’m LeBron James and that’s not gonna change.”
Some 24 years later and LeBron is still grinding.
Days after his 40th birthday, he tied Jordan’s all-time record with his 672nd 30-plus point game.
Questions are being asked about a potential retirement, after all LeBron’s son Bronny is old enough to share the court with him.
But the Los Angeles Lakers superstar, who has four NBA Championships, is not done yet.
“It won’t be because I can’t play this game at a high level,” he said when quizzed on what could make him call it a day.
“To be honest, if I really wanted to, I could probably play this game at a high level for another five to seven years if I wanted to, but I’m not gonna do that.”
As a 17-year-old, LeBron responded to comparisons with two basketball icons by name-dropping a few more greats just for good measure.
He talks the talk, and will continue to walk the walk until he decides it’s time to abdicate the throne.
