There’s a reason beyond ‘genetics’ and ‘pure skill’ that’s led to LeBron James sustaining the level of greatness that he’s had. Achieving All-NBA second team honors at the age of 40 can’t just be chalked up to him being an anomaly. As trainer, Chris Brickley, reveals, LBJ’s work ethic is at the center of his longevity.
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“I’m trying to maximize, how could I be in optimal shape and game-ready for the next day. I’m always thinking about the next day,” said James on Mind the Game. His regimented days have allowed him to stay focused on honing his skills but also preserving his body.
The only time he’s strayed away from specific timings has been when it comes to his training sessions. Brickley expressed shock over just how much LeBron refuses to, not only not be late, but to even cut it close to a certain arrival time.
“He sets an 8AM workout, He’s going to arrive at 6AM. He’s going to do a 10AM workout? He’s going to arrive at 8 every single time we’ve ever worked. I never knew why,” said Chris when asked who shocked him the most out of all of his trainees.
“He [LeBron] said, growing up, if he ever was kind of close to cutting it, it would give him anxiety. That made him get there early.”
To be so dialed into your workouts that a wave of anxiousness starts to build up if you’re not two hours early is a ludicrous level of commitment to the craft. But it’s expected from someone of the 4x MVP’s caliber.
There have been quite a few instances where James has taken to social media to show off working out at around 4:50AM, which is an ungodly hour for most around the world. So, it’s safe to say that Brickley’s awe-inspiring story is rooted in truth.
In the aforementioned Mind the Game pod, a simple story from LBJ serves as the perfect example of just how locked in James tries to get during his workouts.
“If I’m doing a 45-minute court workout, and every five to seven minutes through that 45 minutes I’m getting a drink of water, I’m like, ‘Okay. I’ve got to get better.’ Then it gets to the point where I’ve only needed one break in 45 minutes. That’s when I know, ‘Okay, I’m at a really good pace.’”
This is a good way to build up game-speed level stamina. Like how Steph Curry can lower and raise his heartbeat at will, LeBron seems to be finding new ways to work on his endurance. And it all stems from him getting in extra reps due to him simple being too anxious to be late to a workout.
