Every athlete works out over the summer, especially in basketball. Gone are the days where athletes roll into training camp with a beer gut and start to work it off as the season approaches.
Chronicling the workout habits of athletes in the offseason can often be a silly endeavor. Players will take care of themselves, for the most part, because they know all the other elites are also doing their thing and trying to get better. For them, life really is a sports drink commercial. Grit and grind and all that.
But when sources say that LeBron James is “obsessed” with getting better, and knowing now that Kyrie Irving has officially left the Cavaliers you tend to believe what you hear when it comes to James’ mindset this summer.
https://twitter.com/mcten/status/900345378981126145
James has certainly showed himself in the gym often this offseason, screaming Meek Mill lyrics while he lifts and just generally vibing on himself and his desire to get better. It’s a carefully cultivated message that James is establishing here: he doesn’t need help from anyone to bring another championship to Cleveland. He has it within himself to prove Kyrie Irving and maybe even the Golden State Warriors wrong.
But James will get help from new Celtics teammate Isaiah Thomas. And maybe even Dwyane Wade eventually. Because that’s how basketball works. You can’t do it all by yourself. In August, though, when the only thing to do is practice free throws and lift heavy objects receptively, focusing on your own goals and ambition is often the most important thing to do.
