During a recent episode of the Mind The Game podcast, LeBron James revealed he did not work with a personal basketball trainer until well into his NBA career.
“I didn’t have a basketball trainer until my 2nd, 3rd or 4th year in the NBA,” James said.
The league’s all-time leading scorer explained that his early development came through consistent pickup play and real-game experience, not specialized instruction.
“My basketball training was just being on the court. Let’s just go hoop,” James added.
The four-time NBA champion made the remarks in a broader discussion about youth basketball and the growing industry of private trainers.
James questioned the widespread belief that young players need to work with trainers from an early age to develop elite skills.
Instead, he emphasized the value of simply playing the game as often as possible, whether in organized settings or informal runs.
James entered the NBA directly from high school in 2003 as one of the most hyped prospects in league history.
Despite not having access to personal trainers during his teenage years, he earned Rookie of the Year honors and averaged 20.9 points per game in his debut season.
Now into his third decade in the league, James has maintained elite production through rigorous physical preparation and basketball IQ.
