LeBron James has built one of the greatest careers in NBA history, but as he reflects on his path to stardom, he’s starting to question how different things have been for his sons, Bronny and Bryce James . While both are highly-touted prospects with national exposure, their father believes their basketball upbringing lacked the raw, unfiltered foundation that shaped his own rise from Akron’s streets to global fame. James didn’t hold back when talking about it.
LeBron James says kids today are over-programmed including Bronny and Bryce James
During a recent episode of the Mind the Game podcast , LeBron James opened up about what separates his generation from the path his sons and other young athletes are taking now. The four-time NBA champion admitted that while Bronny and Bryce had opportunities he never dreamed of, they missed out on something fundamental that was James’ luxury— freedom and play.
“Very rarely. Yeah. Very rarely, you know,” LeBron said, when asked if his sons played pickup games outside like he used to. “They did play outside a little bit but mostly it's indoors.”
Having spent most of their childhood in South Florida and Southern California, the James brothers had warm weather year-round. However, LeBron pointed out, the issue wasn’t the climate, it was the culture around youth sports today.
“There was no reason for them not to be outside. I get it if they… grew up in Northeast Ohio where you have four seasons and it’s hard to get on the outdoor court… but it’s just not the thing,” he explained.
The 21-time All-Star further asserted how important it was for kids to experience a variety of sports and now, it is a far cry from today’s youth programs that push specialization early. Today, multi-sport experiences like football or track are no longer encouraged.
“You burn the hell out… They start, you know, they say, ‘F*** the hell with it. I’m done. I don’t even want to play no more,’” James said.
Back in his own youth, LeBron and his friends played multiple sports including, football, basketball, track, and often just for fun. That variety, he believes, kept them engaged and passionate.
“We didn’t just cap it at one thing… I don’t think putting a cap on these kids… they should be able to just explore, man.”
Also Read: What does Luka Doncic hate about Los Angeles? LeBron James finally got to know one dislike of the Slovenian star’s Lakers tenure
The King has every reason to believe that his rise in the basketball scene and the dominance over the years stemmed from the variations he experienced in different sports he played in his younger days. Of course, James is one of the greatest NBA stars of all time, if not the best, and his legacy will forever be marked in the history of the league with golden words.
LeBron James says kids today are over-programmed including Bronny and Bryce James
During a recent episode of the Mind the Game podcast , LeBron James opened up about what separates his generation from the path his sons and other young athletes are taking now. The four-time NBA champion admitted that while Bronny and Bryce had opportunities he never dreamed of, they missed out on something fundamental that was James’ luxury— freedom and play.
“Very rarely. Yeah. Very rarely, you know,” LeBron said, when asked if his sons played pickup games outside like he used to. “They did play outside a little bit but mostly it's indoors.”
Having spent most of their childhood in South Florida and Southern California, the James brothers had warm weather year-round. However, LeBron pointed out, the issue wasn’t the climate, it was the culture around youth sports today.
“There was no reason for them not to be outside. I get it if they… grew up in Northeast Ohio where you have four seasons and it’s hard to get on the outdoor court… but it’s just not the thing,” he explained.
The 21-time All-Star further asserted how important it was for kids to experience a variety of sports and now, it is a far cry from today’s youth programs that push specialization early. Today, multi-sport experiences like football or track are no longer encouraged.
“You burn the hell out… They start, you know, they say, ‘F*** the hell with it. I’m done. I don’t even want to play no more,’” James said.
Back in his own youth, LeBron and his friends played multiple sports including, football, basketball, track, and often just for fun. That variety, he believes, kept them engaged and passionate.
“We didn’t just cap it at one thing… I don’t think putting a cap on these kids… they should be able to just explore, man.”
Also Read: What does Luka Doncic hate about Los Angeles? LeBron James finally got to know one dislike of the Slovenian star’s Lakers tenure
The King has every reason to believe that his rise in the basketball scene and the dominance over the years stemmed from the variations he experienced in different sports he played in his younger days. Of course, James is one of the greatest NBA stars of all time, if not the best, and his legacy will forever be marked in the history of the league with golden words.
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