As the NBA offseason unfolds, LeBron James is shifting his attention off the court, though not toward a coaching clipboard as the Los Angeles Laker addressed speculation about his post-playing career.
The 22-year NBA veteran, who wrapped up his season with a disappointing first-round playoffs loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves, made it clear that a future in coaching isn’t for him, despite basketball IQ and leadership skills.
During a recent episode of his podcast Mind the Game, co-hosted with Steve Nash, James was asked by a listener which team he might coach if he ever took that path. His answer was left no illusions.
“There’s no way. There’s no way, guys,” James said. “Alfonso Taylor, appreciate you for the kind question, but it ain’t happening.
“No team. Zero chance. Zero chance.”
So, there you have it. Not even the Lakers nor his beloved Cleveland Cavaliers could seemingly tempt the iconic athlete to stick around in the NBA to chase down some extra rings.
And Nash, who coached in the NBA with the Brooklyn Nets from 2020 to 2022 before being dismissed in his third season, was quick to echo James’ reluctance to consider the profession.
“Let me just stop that one right now and say, please, please don’t coach,” Nash said, drawing from personal experience, who lasted seven games of his third campaign in New York before being canned.
The exchange highlighted the stark contrast between being a player and managing a team from the sidelines-something both NBA stars clearly recognize as an entirely different challenge.
LeBron makes big announcement for offseason summer
LeBron’s 22nd season ended in disappointment in his pursuit of a fifth NBA championship, despite the acquisition of Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks in one of the most shocking trades in sports history.
Yet James has remained active during the offseason, not just in training but also in media, as his podcast continues to grow in popularity and has become a platform for in-depth basketball discussions and tactical analysis.
As part of their growing presence, James and Nash are set to host a live episode of the podcast at Fanatics Fest in New York on Saturday, June 21. The event is sponsored by Nike and promises an interactive session with fans.
“LeBron James and Steve Nash are coming to Fanatics Fest,” the official podcast account posted. “For a special live episode of @mindthegamepod on Saturday, June 21, presented by @Nike.
“Join these basketball icons as they discuss the state of the game, dissect X’s and O’s, and wax poetic about the game they love.”
The announcement was met with enthusiasm online, with fans responding across platforms:
One user commented on Instagram, “Lefanaticsfest.”
A second said, “YESSIR ”
And a third commented, “This is so sick.”
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