LeBron James NFL
Photo: Tim Heitman/USA TODAY Sports

LeBron James is a huge football fan and has played the sport as a kid. The instincts and skills that he learned from football translate into basketball and gives him an advantage.

Following the Lakers’ win over the Timberwolves the four-time NBA champion talked about how playing other sports early in life helps in basketball.

“It’s all about hand-eye coordination. You get that when you’re a kid and and you’re playing touch football, you’re playing free frog, you’re playing intramural sports and things of that nature,” James said. “You get that high hand-eye coordination. And then with football you’re able to catch the ball in tight spaces or in contact and be able to finish through contact.

“Me being a receiver myself playing through linebackers coming over the top or safeties, corners, free safety strong safeties and still having to catch the ball on contact. It definitely helps out when you make the transition to basketball.”