A few hours before the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday, LeBron James decided to put up some left-handed shots. As he did so, James hilariously started making some bold claims.
"I'm gonna play until I'm 40. Then, after 40, I'm gonna go all left-hand until I'm 45. I'm gonna score 5,000 points with my left hand. Then I'll be done."
For those unaware, LeBron is actually left-handed but just shoots with his right hand. There are others like him as well, with his former teammate Russell Westbrook also being a lefty who shoots with his right hand.
As for these claims by James, he clearly was just joking around. It would be an incredible sight, though, if he does just come in one season and start shooting with his left. The form does look pretty good to be fair, but he obviously won't do it.
It would also be a bit of a miracle if he's still playing when he's 45 years old, but his camp believes he could do it. Rich Paul stated LeBron could play until he's 44-45 years old, and if he does actually end up doing it, he's going to set statistical records that will never be broken.
As for the game against the Spurs, LeBron, who's averaging 25.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game this season, didn't play in it because of a left calf contusion. Despite his absence, the Lakers still came away with a 122-119 win to improve to 15-10.
NBA Fans React To LeBron's Claims
The video and James' claims quickly went viral and understandably so. NBA fans hilariously reacted to them.
One fan said LeBron isn't joking, "He not joking."
A fan joked that Zhuri James will be in the WNBA when LeBron retires, "By the time he retires his daughter gonna be in the league."
A fan said LeBron will be the greatest right and left-handed player, "Bros gonna be the greatest right and left-handed player."
One fan roasted James, "Why's he warming up with left-handed threes? He barely can shoot them right-handed."
A fan is convinced LeBron will try to play for 30 seasons, "He going for 30 seasons I’m convinced lol."
30 would be a step too far even for a freak athlete like LeBron. He will certainly set the record for most seasons played in the NBA, though, as he will tie Vince Carter's mark of 22 seasons in 2024-25.
LeBron James On Why He Became A Right-Handed Player
As for why LeBron became a right-handed player, well you can thank two of the players he looked up to growing up for that. Back in 2017, LeBron stated he became a right-handed player because of Penny Hardaway and Michael Jordan.
“I have no idea how I became a right-handed basketball player," LeBron said in 2017. "I think it was probably (because of) Michael Jordan, Penny Hardaway, guys that I looked up to growing up. Seeing those guys shoot righty,(I thought), ‘I guess I’ll shoot righty.’ I’m pretty much a left-handed guy. I don't take many of those shots but I'm capable of making those shots.”
“I work on my craft. I work on both hands... But I have no idea why I became a righty. I just thought I guess it looked cool until I got older and I wished I was a lefty because those shots look a lot better.”
Well, we'll never know for sure what might have happened had he stuck to using his left. Perhaps he'd have been a much better outside shooter with it, as the shots look better, and that's a scary thought.
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