LeBron James' Golf Swing Draws Strong Reactions on Friday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Cole Sullivan | Last updated Jul 4, 2025 2:09 PM ET

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is gearing up for his 23rd NBA season — a milestone that would make him the longest-tenured player in league history.

While his legendary career is clearly entering its final stretch, his championship aspirations remain intact. That much was made clear last week when his agent, Rich Paul, confirmed James had opted into the final year of his contract with the Lakers.

That said, James also appears to be slowly embracing the idea of life after basketball. He’s been spotted on the golf course several times this offseason, sharpening a game that, by his own admission, is still a work in progress.

On Friday, James posted a full video of his swing to Instagram, revealing it was only his second time ever playing a full round. A video of his wing, he added, came at the request of his former teammate — and avid golfer — J.R. Smith.

"Day 2 of officially trying this out!" James posted. "Boy o Boy it's a mind [explicit] to say the least! But I think I enjoy that part of it a lot! Haha! Got a long [explicit] way to go at this sport and I'll still be some but hey it's a great time out there! [J.R. Smith] asked me for a vid so here you go my guy! Slid 4 is so funny to me!"

Check it out:

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Golf has long been considered one of the most difficult sports to master, which makes the feats of professional golfers all the more impressive.

At the same time, it's also known as one of the few sports that can be played at virtually any age — a big reason why so many athletes gravitate toward it after retirement.

That might explain LeBron James’ growing interest in the game, as he nears the end of a legendary basketball career that has already solidified him as one of the greatest to ever play.

James' swing sparked strong reactions from several of his peers:

"Yeaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!" Austin Reaves said.

'Reeeaal oldhead," Tyrese Haliburton added.

Taylor Made Golf commented, "LeBombs."

"This that I’m getting ready for retirement sport," a fan wrote.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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