As LeBron James continues to write the final chapters of his legendary NBA career, he’s just as focused on the future of basketball as he is on his own legacy, specifically, the futures of his sons, Bronny and Bryce.
And while many assume the James brothers will follow a well-lit path to stardom, LeBron is teaching them that greatness often takes the road less traveled.
Speaking on the Mind the Game podcast with Steve Nash, LeBron shared a rare glimpse into how he mentors his sons. He revealed a group chat between the three of them and a message he sent on June 18, 2024.
That message had little to do with highlight reels or five-star rankings. Instead, it spotlighted a name that few would have expected to be a James family inspiration: Derrick White.
Derrick White’s unlikely rise resonates with LeBron’s message
“So I have a group chat with me, Bronny, and Bryce,” LeBron said. “And you know, from time to time, I’ll send just, you know, things that just, you know, focus them back in.
“So I sent this on June 18th, 2024. I’ll tell you who this guy is after I read this: unranked in high school, zero D1 scholarship offers, played three years of Division II basketball at UCCS.”
James continued, “Transferred to Colorado and is now the NBA champion. Hell of a player. One of the best teams in the NBA. That guy is Derrick White.”
To make sure the message landed with his sons, he attached a lesson to it. “And my message was to them: everybody’s road to success is different, so stay locked in and patient. That was my message to my boys last year.”
White’s NBA journey is the kind LeBron wants his sons to learn from. After being overlooked in high school, White climbed from the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs (UCCS), a Division II program, to the NBA through sheer effort, maturity, and belief.
He eventually found his break with the San Antonio Spurs under Gregg Popovich before becoming a critical piece of the Boston Celtics’ championship run.
Popovich played a crucial role in White’s development, helping instill the confidence and discipline that now define his two-way game. That mentorship mirrors the kind LeBron hopes to provide for his own sons.
The King teaches by example
LeBron has always embraced hard work and basketball IQ, but highlighting a player from a rival team is a rare and telling move.
In White, LeBron sees a success story that isn’t built on hype or media narratives, but on consistency, focus, and mental toughness-values he wants Bronny and Bryce to absorb as they chart their own careers.
In a league obsessed with early rankings and fast fame, James‘s parenting style reflects something deeper: a belief in self-made excellence.
While Bronny is already in the NBA and Bryce continues to draw interest as a high school star, LeBron is making it clear that the path to success is personal-and often paved in obscurity before it shines.
“Hell of a player,” Nash responded when James revealed White‘s name. And it’s a sentiment many around the league now echo.
By using Derrick White as a role model, LeBron isn’t just offering advice. He’s offering a roadmap.
And it’s one that reminds his sons, and the rest of the basketball world, that staying grounded, patient, and driven is just as powerful as any slam dunk.
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