LeBron James, the Los Angeles Lakers’ star, has had one of the most successful careers of any professional athlete. He’s approaching his 22nd NBA season and appears to have scarcely lost a stride, demonstrating his dominance with Team USA at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
James is an all-time great in almost every category. And when his career ends in the coming years, his presence in the game will be sorely missed. His contribution to the game of basketball cannot be emphasized. But it is his off-court exploits that he wants people to remember.
James discussed his sporting legacy and what he feels to be his most significant impact on the world. And, while basketball has contributed to his wealth and reputation, James wants people to define him based on his achievements off the court, he said in an interview with NBC.
“I hope it’s not just talking about basketball,” James told NBC. “I want a large part of my legacy to be remembered for what I do in the community and the individuals I inspire all around the world. Basketball has obviously given me the opportunity to travel the world and do things I never thought I’d be able to do without it, but if my legacy is only remembered for the game of basketball, I’ve failed in my purpose.”
LeBron James has inaugurated the I Promise School in Akron. He has used his considerable fortune to inspire change in the world and the lives of young children who would not otherwise have had such wonderful possibilities. Of course, James’ basketball legacy will live on in future years.
“You only get out what you put in. I wish to inspire the next generation to work hard both on and off the floor. “Commit to the game,” James stated. “If you claim you want to be great, you have to go out and do the work. There are no shortcuts to becoming great, if that is your goal.
“There are no shortcuts to committing to your craft. If you are a professional, you must recognize that there is a lot of responsibility that comes with putting in labor. That is how you receive the outcomes.
James will be remembered as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. His on-court achievements alone ensured that. However, the addition of what he has done in the communities where he has played demonstrates that his legacy is far greater than the figures he has accumulated over the last two decades.
Coco Gauff: It means a lot to be the flag bearer with LeBron James.
LeBron James’ influence may also be evident in how young athletes across all sports see him. Coco Gauff, a young tennis player, recognized James as the GOAT and expressed how much it meant to her to be appointed a Team USA flag bearer beside him.
