Greatness respects greatness. Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. recently revealed how LeBron James has lifted him throughout his career despite playing a separate sport.
“Lebron is probably my biggest influence. He’s just someone I watched his moves growing up,” Beckham said on “The Rich Eisen Show.” “He doesn’t even play football so it’s different when I’m watching him. But, the way that he carries himself, the way that he approaches the game, the way that he never cheats the workout regiments, just kind of all of those tips and advice.”
Evidently, James’ wisdom isn’t limited to the hardwood. In eight NFL seasons, Beckham boasts 531 receptions for 7,367 receiving yards and 56 touchdowns. With his statistics, Beckham has been selected to three Pro Bowls and was the 2014 AP Offensive Player of the Year.
Beckham’s most recent stop prior to Baltimore earned him a Super Bowl ring. In 14 games with the Los Angeles Rams, Beckham tallied 537 receiving yards and five TDs. Unfortunately, Beckham suffered a torn ACL in the Super Bowl win over the Bengals, forcing him to miss the 2022 season.
Nonetheless, Beckham has found a new home. With the help of James, the former LSU standout is ready to return to the top of the league.
“[Lebron’s] just been a very positive impactful male figure in my life, and I think, us as men, we usually don’t care to ask another man for advice or tricks or anything like that,” Beckham said. “He’s just really helped me on and off the field with my approach to the game, my love for the game and aspiring to be great, especially through my failures or whatever it was. That would probably be my biggest thing I asked him about, ‘What play or what moment was it that you wished you could have back?’
The pair share similar trajectories in some ways. They both had immediate success in the league, Beckham in New York, James in Cleveland. However, individual accomplishments did not satisfy either athlete. Thus, they took their talents elsewhere.
For James, that “elsewhere” was Miami where he won two championships. In OBJ’s case, he joined the Cleveland Browns before moving on to Los Angeles and eventually securing his coveted championship trophy.
Now, as both players head into the sunset years of their career, they look to repeat the thrill of winning it all. Beckham is thrilled to be a part of the Ravens.
“Being the older guy is definitely a little weird, but I’ve embraced it,” Beckham said. “I actually enjoy it, it’s cool. I’m at an age in my life where you want to be where you’re wanted.”
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