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Billionaire LeBron James, Who Admitted Michael Jordan Is the GOAT, Snubs the Bulls Legend for an MLB Veteran He Wants His Sons to Mirror

Published 09/29/2022, 6:30 AM EDT

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LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers have commenced their training camp, seeking to resurrect from the wreckage of the previous season. The franchise also held its media day earlier this week, offering NBA fans an insight into the players’ current headspace.

NBA TV conducted an interactive Q&A session with James as part of the event. The four-time NBA champion can be seen answering a whirlwind of questions in a rapid-fire conversation. During this lively Q&A session, the Lakers superstar revealed his favorite food, tattoo, album, and much more. ‘The King’ also revealed who his favorite athlete was growing up.

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Now, one would immediately think of Michael Jordan as the athlete James idolized growing up. Several individuals would have thought of the Ohio native as another young basketball prodigy from the ’90s who aspired to “Be Like Mike”. Well, to some extent, it is accurate, since James has admitted that he idolized the Chicago Bulls legend growing up and has even referred to him as the GOAT.

However, to everyone’s surprise, he picked an MLB legend as his favorite athlete. “Ken Griffey Jr.,” said James right off the bat when asked the question who his favorite player was growing up.

Ken Griffey Jr. is considered one of the greatest players to ever step foot on the diamond. He is also one of the most prolific home run hitters in baseball history. Griffey Jr. took the field with unwavering confidence and swagger. However, it was his incredible blend of skills that drew many people to idolize the athlete, including LeBron James.

Growing up, James must have gained a great deal from his favorite athlete. He would expect his sons to follow suit. However, it’s not simply Griffey Jr’s sporting success that James wants his boys to emulate; it’s also something else he did.

Ken Griffey Jr. played on the same team alongside his father; something LeBron James wishes to do with his son

Ken Griffey Jr. and Ken Griffey Sr. made history on August 31, 1990, when they became the first father-son duo to play together in Major League history.

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They took the field for the Seattle Mariners in a game against the Kansas City Royals. While his father was nearing the twilight of his career, Griffey Jr. was laying the groundwork for what would eventually turn into a legendary career.

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It’s a plot that LeBron James would desire to see materialize in the NBA with his sons.

This upcoming season, James will step foot into the 20th season of his illustrious NBA career. He has continued to defy the odds and exemplify longevity throughout all these years. However, it isn’t long before the future Hall of Famer decides to set his hooping powers to rest. Before James does that, one thing he wishes is to play alongside his son, Bronny James.

The Los Angeles Lakers star has consistently voiced his desire to play with his elder son, Bronny, but it wouldn’t be surprising if he shared the NBA court with his younger son, Bryce, as well.

In an interview with Sports Illustrated, James was asked specifically if he could envision himself competing not only alongside Bronny but also with Bryce. He remarked that he intends to do so given how his mind and body feel.

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To see that transpire, James will have to compete in his early 40s. However, considering he has been showing no signs of slowing down after all these years, the likelihood of it happening is high.

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WATCH THIS STORY: How do LeBron James’ young sons stack up? 

Do you think we’ll see ever LeBron James and his sons compete alongside each other? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Written by:

Ritvik Malhotra

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Ritvik is an NBA writer at EssentiallySports. Having completed his Bachelor's in Journalism and Mass Communication from Amity University, Ritvik has finally got his foot in the door as a professional sports writer. He previously interned at another media house where he authored over 150 soccer articles, but he is now writing about his primary obsession, basketball.
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Edited by:

Veer Badani