LeBron James Says Kobe Bryant Had One Trick to Outsmart Him on the Court

Nearing the end of his distinguished career, NBA icon LeBron James is increasingly sharing insights on players and key moments in the game. He already discusses a wide range of basketball topics on two platforms: his Mind The Game basketball podcast, which he co-hosts with NBA Hall of Famer Steve Nash, and his HBO Max talk show The Shop, hosted by his business partner, Maverick Carter.

Now a golf enthusiast, he appeared on the popular golf showBob Does Sports. During the appearance, he discussed his rivalry with late Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and how the superstar got under his skin during their on-court battles.

Kobe Bryant Would Confuse Lebron James With Hand Signals

“I swear he used to trick the s***out of me,” James admitted. “I’m like, What play is he running? What the f*** play is Kobe runnin? Then every time they swing the ball to him, he goes iso. I’m like, “Oh, this ain’t no f****** play. This guy is trying to kill me.” 

The NBA's all-time leading scorer faced Bryant 22 times over 23 seasons, winning 16 of those matchups. Beyond their professional rivalry, the two players were teammates on USA Basketball at the 2008 and 2012 Olympics, where they won gold medals together in both appearances.

There’s One Team Lebron James Won’t Play for

The 4-time NBA champion previously stated that he would refuse to play for the Memphis Grizzlies due to the taxing travel schedule, specifically mentioning that he wouldn't want to be in Memphis on a "random a** Thursday" at the age of 41. James reiterated this sentiment, adding that many other NBA players feel the same way.

“I’m not like the first guy to even talk about this in the NBA,” he stated. “We’re all like ‘You guys have to move.’ Just go over to Nashville.'”

The 22-time NBA All-Star mentioned the various amenities Nashville has, including Vanderbilt University, NASCAR events, and the Nashville Predators.

Lebron James Shares His Love of Golf 

James recently expressed his enthusiasm for golf, revealing his newfound appreciation for the sport in an interview with The California Post.

“I told myself when I turned 40 that I wanted to do something that was maybe uncomfortable or never done in my life before,” he said. “I never played golf in my life before, never followed the sport really. When I turned 40, I said it was that and chess; I’ve never played chess as well. So that will be next, but right now, I’m locked in on golf.”

“It’s something that I’ve really put a lot of time in. I love the sport, appreciate the sport. I love how difficult it is; I love a challenge. So, I look forward to putting more work in over the course of however long it takes me. But right now, I’m having a hell of a time playing.”