LeBron James is the greatest basketball player the state of Ohio has ever produced. Of course, many would say he’s the greatest basketball player ever, period, but this isn’t about that.
James spent time Thursday on his Mind The Game podcast clapping back at some of his critics, and he did it by recalling his high school basketball days.
The King was a three-time state champion at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio, just south of Cleveland (yes, he lost once in the state final).
Almost as soon as LeBron entered the NBA as the No. 1 pick of the Cleveland Cavaliers, the common criticism began. James was knocked for not looking for his own shot enough when the game was on the line.
Here’s how James summed up his response on his latest podcast episode:
“I never averaged more than 30 points in high school,” he said. :I could have averaged 50 points a game in my junior and senior years, but it was never about that. It was about how can I maximize my teammates, how can I get the most out of my teammates in order for all of us to be successful.”
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It is kind of fun to imagine how many points James could’ve scored if he wasn’t a willing passer during those high school days.
But it also makes clear exactly how James thinks about the game.
It’s a play style that has led him to four NBA titles, and it’s not like James can’t score. He’s got more points than anyone in the history of the game.
The more time James spends talking about his high school days, the more NBA fans will wonder if he’s coming back to Cleveland to play for the Cavs.
He’s got a player option for the 2025-26 season with the Lakers, so he could choose to opt out and do whatever he wants.
For now, though, James just wants people to understand his basketball mindset, and his podcast remains a great place for him to share that.