Bleacher Report

At age 17, LeBron James was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated for the first time. At 25, he had already won one NBA MVP award and was working on a second in what would be the final season of his first stint with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Now, back with the Cavaliers and turning the big 3-0 on Tuesday, he is a four-time MVP, a two-time NBA champion and is ahead of the statistical paces of nearly all of the all-time greats. Just over a week prior to that major milestone birthday, James sat down with Bleacher Report to discuss where he’s been, where he is and where he’s going.

Bleacher Report: What’s the significance of 30 to you?

LeBron James: I just think it’s another phase in my life. Just to think about my upbringing,

and at times not knowing if you’re going to see the following day. You hear about the statistics all the time, growing up in the inner city and where I’m from—and people not even making it past their teenage years or past 21.

The fact that I’ve been able to do what I love to do, play this sport and be able to transcend the youth to the best of my knowledge, and being able to turn 30 and still doing it. I guess it means I’ve done some pretty good things to this point.

 When I was born, she was 16. My second-oldest uncle was 26. And my Mom’s oldest brother was 36. It was a young family, so… (Laughs) I really didn’t think about it too much. All I saw was young people around, man.

But I always hoped that I could be able to put myself in a position where I can give back, not only to the youth, but to my own family. And to be almost 30 and to see my three kids and to see them grow, and for me to just try to give them the blueprint every day on what life is about and how to conduct yourself, that’s the most important thing for me.   

KATHY WILLENS/Associated Press

B/R: What would you, at 30, tell a 20-year-old LeBron James? 

LJ: I think I would tell him to just be ready for the pitfalls and be ready for the adversity that’s

going to come your way. But don’t change them. Don’t change them at all. Obviously there are some things that you can do better, but I think you go forward, and you go through it, because that’s the only way that’s going to make you who you are. That’s the only way that’s going to make you become a man, and in whatever that you’re doing, it’s only going to make you become stronger.

And like I say all the time, the best teacher in life is experience. And for me to be able to experience some of the things that I went through as a professional, and off the floor as well, you know that set me up to be the guy who I am today.

B/R: So if the best teacher is experience, what is the best lesson that it teaches? 

LJ: I think, for me, it’s when that opportunity presents itself, you know how to approach it the

next time. I’m fortunate enough that I’ve had an opportunity to have multiple opportunities to resurrect an opportunity. Everyone’s not as fortunate. A lot of people get one time at it, and if they mess it up then and there, then there’s no going back.

I’ve been fortunate enough, and the man above has given me an opportunity to have situations where I’ve had multiple opportunities to do better. And I think the reason for that is because he knew that I was genuine at heart, and I used that for the better to know how to approach it the next day.

MARK DUNCAN/Associated Press

You know, when I was 20 years old, I really just played the game. I was very smart then, too. I had a huge basketball IQ even when I was younger. But the experience that I’ve gained over the years has given me even more of a thinking game. I kind of think the game more than I play it now. And I just let what I do here in practices just take care of itself.

LJ:Well, I mean, first of all, let’s be honest: We all know that Father Time is undefeated. I don’t care who you are; I don’t care how much stretching, yoga, treatment, tables—Father Time is undefeated. So, for me, I’ve just got to continue to listen to my body, train my body, like I’ve been doing over the years.

And my thing is, my answer wasn’t [that] I felt that I’m losing my athleticism. Obviously, I’m not just jumping and going crazy like I was when I was 18, 19. But my answer to that was geared toward, I want people to understand that there’s more to me than just athleticism. That’s not my whole game. Obviously, it’s allowed me to do some great things out on the floor. But my basketball IQ and the way I approach the game mentally, I want that to be seen more than my athleticism.

And that’s why I was saying that… It wasn’t like I was saying, “OK, I can’t jump no more.” (Smiles) Because I can still. At a high level, too. But it was more of me just, I wanted to bring out the fact that I’m a basketball guru guy, I love the game, I think the game. And that’s what is key for me.

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

Maybe it’s because there’s just not a lot of guys that really think the game. We have a couple that I know that when you play against them, they’re thinking the game. Chris Paul. Tim Duncan. Those guys. Those guys. Dwyane Wade. Those guys are thinking the game before it happens. But there’s less of us than the guys who are flying above the rim.

LJ:Absolutely. Absolutely. Come on, man. This is the longest shortest career of anything. I think about all the time, what’s next for me in the next couple of years, you know 35, and then if I make it to get where Kobe is, you know. How do I approach the game? And what is my mindset? And is my love for the game still there? I absolutely think about that stuff. I mean, how could you not? I mean, I’ve been in this league 12 years, and it’s not like I’m going up another 12 years. You know, my escalator is starting to tail. So I understand that. 

I just think I owe it to it. I owe it to the game. The game has given everything to me. For me to talk about what I want to leave behind, I leave it to people to try to figure it out, I guess. 

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

The least I can do is give back to this game, and hopefully this game continues to grow when I’m done. And these kids that’s coming into our league, these young men that are playing in our league that have to continue to carry it on when, eventually, at some point, I’ll be done…hopefully, I’ve just left them enough of the blueprint where they can just keep it going.

LJ: Fundamentals. Fundamentals and the thinking game. That’s what I would like to change. There’s not many guys that think the game. And the fundamentals are not where they used to be.
B/R: Why do you think that is?

LJ: I don’t know. I don’t know if it’s the little league coaches or AAU ball. I just don’t think the game is being taught the right way. I’m not saying every coach. Because I know my little league coaches were great, and they taught the fundamentals, and we played for team. It has something to do with something. There’s a shortage somewhere going on.