Activist, emerging media mogul and arguably the greatest athlete in the NBA today, LeBron James talks about moving to LA, his fitness regime and the importance of speaking out
The Los Angeles Lakers have been one of the great NBA (National Basketball Association) franchises, but they [also have] a history of winning championships. That’s what they should be doing, and I am here to help them get back to doing that. As a city, LA is great and one I know well [and have spent a lot of time in], so I do look forward to this new chapter of living here.
I just want to get playing [with my new teammates] now. A lot of experts seem to think that this will be a rebuilding season for us, but I don’t see it that way. I think we can do things that people don’t expect us to.
"Whatever success I have had is never enough. I always want more"
I keep my body in shape by training hard and eating well. I am also a big believer in stretching and yoga – not just if you are a professional athlete, as it can benefit everybody.
At the moment, I still have so much I want to achieve – the only way I am looking is forward. The end of my career [is when I will take] the time to reflect and look back.
I am never going to shut up or stop speaking out, [not when it comes to social justice issues] and leading our youth into a better life and a better way of thinking. [As high profile athletes], we do have a platform, especially when it comes to speaking to youth and kids. I know that [many] kids look at me as an inspiration to get out of the situation they are in.
Opening my I Promise School in my hometown of Akron, Ohio, was without a doubt one of the greatest moments of my life. The school is for children who come from challenging situations or backgrounds. [Funding and advocating for children’s education are] so important because every child deserves a fair chance in life, no matter what their start might have been.
My advice for young players joining the NBA [especially if the league starts allowing players to enter the draft straight out of high school] is to learn and be willing to learn. At the same time, [it’s important] to back yourself. If you are good enough, then you are old enough – don’t let the league intimidate you.
[Making shrewd investments and business collaborations] is about being smart with your money – about investing your money in safe places. Nothing is guaranteed, but you can make calculated decisions.
If I could assemble a team [for three-on-three pick-up basketball, including myself], I would pick Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson without any hesitation.
Both Dr Martin Luther King Jr and Muhammad Ali were men of great integrity whom I have a lot of respect for. It’s all about having your own path in life, but of course there are people I admire [and look up to for] what they stand for.
Family is everything. Everything I do and every decision I make is – at the root – based on how it will affect my family.
This summer, [I unwound from the season by spending some time with my wife, Savannah, and three kids] on a yacht in Positano, Italy. It’s on the Amalfi Coast, and looking out onto the beautiful water with my family next to me is something I am always going to remember.
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This article was originally published in the October 2018 issue of SilverKris magazine
