Lebron James has been the theme of gossiping this last few days now that free agency has started, but he hasn’t made any glaring comment as to what his future with the Lakers holds. Lebron isn’t like that, he likes to talk basketball. That is precisely what the King does in his ‘Mind the Game’ podcast with NBA legend Steve Nash. In the latest episode, they had Kevin Durant as a guest, an elite basketball trio that every fan would like to hear what they have to say on the sport.
The four-time NBA champion admitted that after two decades in the league, there’s still one part of his game that’s been a mental hurdle: his mid-range jumper when driving to the right side of the court. While he has always been labeled as a relentless, obsessed worker, who meitculously crafted his tri-level scoring (deep, drives and mid-range), James confesses that the right-side mid-range jumper remains his weakest link.
A weakness that matters for Lebron James
“Going right has always been a little…sometimes my balance is off”, explained the still Lakers player. “Sometimes I don?t know if I should fade on the shot or if I should go straight up and down. It’s always kinf of f**ked with me mentally, even though I work on all of them.” Lebron further explained that attacking right makes him loose the ‘pocket’, refering to where his shot feels most consistent. Uncertainty begins to creep up and adds a mental component to what should be a routine jumper.
Contrasting this idea, going to his left is totally different; most probably because it’s more natural for a right hander to shoot going to the left, and James simply feels it that way. “Going left with my ‘midi’, I feel really effective…I can go straight up and down…I can fade out”. A security that doesn’t follow him to his right side.
Another important thing the King mentioned is, even though he is considered arguably one of the two best NBA players of all time along Michael Jordan, he still learns from his best peers. James praised point guard Chris Paul’s mastery or the right-side mid-range, noting how CP3 hits those shots effortlessly; both off the catch and in three-point range. That surely inspired him to continue working on his craft.
Lebron James’ game is defined by his weaknesses
Lebron wasn’t viewed as a sharp shooter, from any range, when he entered the league. Athleticism is what really highlightes his style, but work and effort were also skills that labeled him. At age 40, Lebron ranked in the top 40% of NBA players in three-point efficiency (41% in the season before) and shot a career-best 78.2% from the free-throw line. All James has done in his career is work on his game, not resigning to his natural abilities, but putting the effort necessary to reach the top.
The King’s confession is a rare peek into the mind of an athlete with few weaknesses. Being open about his craft underscores the mental game’s importance to perform at an elite level; not just skill and talent, but confidence, consistency, and self-awareness play a crucial part on it. Young players should watch everything James shares in his podcast, in this case: the struggle is real for anybody, no matter how good you are, there’s always room for improvement.
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