LeBron James’ unparalleled longevity has largely got to do with the body he was blessed with and the discipline he has maintained to keep himself fit through meticulous training, diet, and ‘biohacking’. He continues to perform at an elite level into his 22nd season in the NBA, surpassing milestones one after the other.
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LeBron’s longevity isn’t the only extraordinary thing the NBA has witnessed in recent years. The revitalized dominance of European players, led by the likes of Luka Dončić and Nikola Jokić, has been something to marvel at. However, both Doncic and Jokic are built rather differently from the muscle-bound James.
They have shown a tendency to pick up niggles as well, something which makes Shannon Sharpe wonder how long they will be able to continue dominating the league. On Nightcap, the NFL legend analyzed the body types and explained why they visibly seem less athletic than LeBron.
“I think, the thing is, with Luka, you look at his body. He’s never going to have a body like LeBron James. He’s never going to have a body like Dwight Howard. Neither is Jokić. That’s not their genetic makeup. That’s not how they’re gonna be built,” said Sharpe.
The NFL legend’s remarks aren’t necessarily disparaging. We have never seen any European player with LeBron’s physique. To that point, we have only ever seen two players reach the longevity of James — Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Vince Carter.
Despite that, what Jokic and Doncic have been able to do in the game is extraordinary. Their success is a result of their dedication to the game and how well they train.
LeBron, on the other hand, has not just worked on his skill but ensured his body remained as potent as in his younger days.
James’ health regimen
The Netflix series, Starting 5, provided great insights into the life of James. The media crew covered his daily routine for a season.
Fans also got to witness some of the things the Lakers superstar does to keep his body in shape after two decades of being in the league. LeBron also debunked the myth that he spends a million dollars on his body.
“I’ve heard this crazy notion about how much money I spend on my body per year. And, I kind of just chuckle,” said James. The 40-year-old explained that it’s more about the time he puts in than the money, without revealing the actual figure.
“We do cryotherapy, cold tub, hot tub, red light, hyperbaric chambers,” he added. The most important thing, however, is sleep. LeBron said that having enough sleep, as frequently as one can, is the best way to recover and avoid being injured.
There are very few players in the NBA who take their body’s upkeep as a full-time vocation like LeBron does. That’s the likely reason for his durability in the game.
