LeBron James has had one of the most successful careers in NBA history in recent decades. Now 41 years old and in his record 23rd season in the league, he shows no real signs of slowing down anytime soon.
When he came into the league in 2003, there naturally were some doubters who wondered if the hype around him was real and if he would actually become a major superstar. Jumping from high school to the pros like James did that year is a huge transition, especially when you were under the media microscope in high school like James was.
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After Los Angeles Lakers' defeat 128-106 To Detroit Pistons Tuesday, James asked What advice would he give to his 18-year-old self?
“That's a lot. I would give him a lot of advice. I would just say keep the main thing the main thing. Work hard, there's no substitute for hard work. I think hard work and dedication, if you want to be great, will pay off. Keep your blinders on. No matter how much they praise you, even triple, quadruple people try to bring you down and want to break you every single day. Protect your family, protect your mental space. There's a lot more to it, but just go for it.” go out, have fun and enjoy the ride because you never know when it will end.
As a rookie, James averaged 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game while shooting 41.7% from the field. The following season, he increased that to 27.2 points on 47.2% shooting, 7.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game and earned his first of 21 consecutive All-Star and NBA Game selections.
He has become polarizing in recent years, and while the criticism he received may have bothered him early in his career, he has matured to the point where he can probably laugh it off and stay focused.
This article originally appeared on LeBron Wire: LeBron James on what advice he would give to his 18-year-old self
