LeBron James Reveals Which NBA Legend Inspired Him Without Hesitation

LeBron James is set to enter his 23rd NBA season, and even as he approaches his 41st birthday in December, he remains one of the most prominent figures in professional sports — a status he’s held since he first entered the league.

James has inspired countless athletes, including many of the rising stars he now shares the floor with, which only adds to the awe of his remarkable longevity.

But before becoming a global icon, James was a rising star from Akron, Ohio with NBA aspirations of his own. Like many kids of his era, he had his idols. Ahead of the season finale of his show Mind the Game, which drops Tuesday, a preview clip was released featuring James opening up about his biggest inspiration growing up: NBA legend Michael Jordan.

“There was nobody more inspiring to me than Michael Jordan,” James said. “For me, I think our games would’ve complemented each other well. MJ was a flat-out scorer. He had a scorer’s mentality—scorer, scorer, scorer.”