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“18 year old LeBron James responds to adversity the same way Michael Jordan did”: Classic special on ‘Chosen One’ shows off his 52 points against Trevor Ariza in high school

Samir Mehdi
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“18 year old LeBron James responds to adversity the same way Michael Jordan did”: Classic special on ‘Chosen One’ shows off his 52 points against Trevor Ariza in high school

An 18 year old LeBron James went off for 52 points against Westchester in high school with rampant comparisons to Michael Jordan. 

By the time LeBron James had reached his junior year of high school, he was already being lauded as someone who would be a failure if he didn’t end his NBA career as a Hall-of-Famer. The amount of pressure that was placed onto the St. Vincent-St. Mary stud was immense and something that he handled very well. 

He was dubbed ‘The Chosen One’ during his high school days after he was featured on an iconic SportsIllustrated cover with that nickname as the tagline underneath his picture. He owned up to the fame and expectations by getting those same three words tattooed on his back. 

Of course, the national media coverage was warranted. He was the most dominant player in high school hoops during his junior and senior year. He led SV-SM to three state championships in the 4 years that he was there and concluded his high school career with stats that seem eerily familiar to his stats in the NBA.

Also read: “If anyone tells me LeBron James is as good as Michael Jordan, I’ll slap the h*ll of them!”: When Charles Barkley gave his clear opinion on the GOAT Debate

  • 27 points per game, 7.4 rebounds per game, and 7.4 assists per game in high school 
  • 27.1 points per game, 7.5 rebounds per game, and 7.4 assists per game in the NBA 

LeBron James drops 52 points on Westchester. 

An 18 year old being interview on a podium after a high school game with 10 microphones and many more reporters all in one room is something quite unheard of. Yet, this was what LeBron James had to deal with given the phenom that he was. 

One particular postgame presser came after LeBron dropped a whopping 52 points against Trevor Ariza and his team, Westchester. He had 31 of his team’s 41 points in the first half and didn’t slow down in the second either.

“I felt like tonight was the night. I don’t know why. When I know my jumper’s on tonight, I feel like I’m unstoppable,” said a young James after torching a couple of 16 year olds for a 50 piece.

Also read: “I want to see Shareef suit up alongside Bronny James!”: When Shaquille O’Neal shared on Jimmy Fallon how he wanted his son to play with LeBron James’ elder son

He wore number 23 in high school and the comparisons to Michael Jordan were non-stop. Not because of the way they played but with the way they won. They dominated their facets of the game and were relentless in winning it all. James would later go on to say that he was chasing the ‘ghost in Chicago’. 

About the author

Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi

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Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

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