Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James explains how nutrition and sleep have helped him succeed over several seasons in the NBA.
James, who just turned 38, is in his 20th season in the NBA and is still putting up elite numbers.
“At 18 and 20 years old, you just do it with straight energy and straight skill,” he said when comparing his younger self to now. “… But at 38 for me, it’s mental. How much rest can I get from day to day, get optimal sleep, get the right food in me, treat my body right.”
Earlier in his career, James was such a dominant athlete that he didn’t really need some of the things he does now in his career. However, with the superstar dealing with injuries in the past few seasons, he seems to have made some changes to help his body survive the challenges of the NBA season.
James once again looks like one of the best players in the NBA, and he’s been critical for the Lakers as they try to stay in the playoff chase despite Anthony Davis dealing with a leg injury.
On Monday night, the 18-time All-Star scored 43 points on 16-of-26 shooting to lead the Lakers to a 121-115 win over the Charlotte Hornets. It was the second straight game in which James had scored over 40 points in a Lakers road win.
The four-time champion added 11 rebounds and six assists in the game, and he has some impressive season-long numbers at this point in the 2022-23 campaign.
James is averaging 29.0 points, 8.2 rebounds and 6.6 assists per game while shooting 51.0 percent from the field. Although the Lakers are in the No. 12 in the West, they would be far from contention if not for James.
After so many seasons with long playoff runs (James reached the NBA Finals in eight straight seasons during his time with the Miami Heat and his second with the Cleveland Cavaliers), it’s amazing that the four-time league MVP can keep playing. at this high level.
The Lakers certainly leaned on James to keep them afloat until Davis returned, and he did, pulling the team within two games of a championship game berth with Monday’s win.
James is under contract with the Lakers through at least the 2023-24 season, and there’s always a chance he plays beyond that, especially if he’s still playing at this high level.
James and the Lakers will look to continue their winning streak thus far when they take on the Miami Heat in Los Angeles on Wednesday night.
