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At 38, LeBron James Channels His Inner Kobe Bryant As He Prepares For His 21st NBA Season

Published 09/26/2023, 12:20 PM EDT

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Entering his 21st NBA season, LeBron James has defied all odds and is still averaging monster numbers. At an age when most athletes slow down, King James, 38, is playing at the highest level and is currently the best in the league. The Akron Hammer has been the face of the league for over two decades, thanks to his unwavering mindset, work ethic, and determination. If his workout videos are anything to go by, it appears that the Ohio native is all geared up for the upcoming season. Ahead of the training camp, James posted a story emulating the late Kobe Bryant.

LeBron James channels his inner Kobe Bryant

With LeBron James entering his extended prime, every season matters for him. Most likely, he’ll be looking forward to adding one or two more titles to his resume before finally hanging up his boots. Although he has become more injury-prone in recent years, his game is still top-notch. Defying father time, James averaged 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 6.9 assists in the 55 games he played last season. He tops the leaderboard when it comes to scoring in the 20th season. Kobe followed behind him with 17.6 points. The basketball greats Dirk Nowitzki and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar take the third and fourth positions with 12.0 and 10.1 points, respectively.

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King James recently took to Instagram to update his fans about his winning mentality. He wrote, “Let’s Get It” with a crown emoji to express his desire to bring the Larry O’Brien trophy to Lakers. His winning mentality resembles the Mamba Mentality of the late Kobe Bryant. The word Mamba comes from the former Lakers nickname, the ‘Black Mamba.’ It simply means to work hard and be the best version of yourself. It’s even reflected in his elaborate practice sessions, where we can see him dedicatedly looking forward to the upcoming season. See for yourself in this video posted by @LegionHoops on X.com.

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The Black Mamba had a winning mentality that led him to five NBA championships. LeBron saw Kobe’s work ethic when they were together in Team USA. The duo won two gold medals for Team USA in Beijing 2008 and London 2012. While he is gearing up for his 21st season, it looks like he is channeling the Mamba mentality to clinch his fifth ring.

LeBron James will be anticipating his fifth ring

After several retirement scares, James announced that he would be returning for his 21st NBA season. This year may as well be his last season before he decides to hang his boots. Therefore, he will give his absolute best to win another title and leave the league on a high note.

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The Los Angeles Lakers front office has been trying to build a title-contending roster around their two superstars – LeBron James and Anthony Davis. With some serious changes to the roster, the Lakers look beefed up to make a deep run to the playoffs this season.

Watch this story: Known for Not Holding Anything Back Herself, Angel Reese Backs LeBron James’ Close Friend’s Trash-Talking Habits

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Written by:

Darshita Daga

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Darshita Daga is an NBA Writer at EssentiallySports. Currently pursuing Bachelor’s in English, she’s a fervent sports enthusiast with a keen interest in sports journalism, specifically covering the NBA. She feels that words have the potential to capture the spirit of a game, evaluate moves, and portray the emotions that occur both on and off the court.
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Edited by:

Saumya Khanduja