Ric Bucher Hints NBA Players And Media Secretly Believe LeBron James Uses PEDs

The speculations around LeBron James using substances have existed ever since the Lakers superstar showed the world his superhuman capabilities. From unreal athleticism to longevity and recovery from injuries, several incidents have raised eyebrows across the league regarding the King's biology. 

Ric Bucher, an NBA Analyst for Fox Sports, recently hinted that while no concrete proof exists to claim beyond a reasonable doubt that LeBron James uses substances, it has become an underlying assumption in the league that the potential myth is true.

"I appreciate LeBron for what he's done," Bucher said. "I just don't make the assumption that everyone wants to be him. And there's also the nagging question about exactly how he's maintained such extraordinary fitness at such a ripe age."

"Now, whether there's any basis for the speculation, and I think you all know what I'm talking about. I'm not gonna voice it because I don't have the means of backing it up. But we all know what the speculation is out there. And I can assure you, there's plenty of it privately by players and personnel in the league."

“Like, I’ve always thought, maybe it could be. And I’ve had players and coaches say things to me like they take it for granted. They take it—they assume it’s true… Look, it could be jealousy, it could just be wild speculation or gossip being presented as fact.”

From players like Jaylen Brown, who subtly alleged that James uses PEDs, to a former MMA fighter claiming he knows exactly what James uses because he uses the same thing, the speculation around James using PEDs is endless.   

What LeBron James Actually Does With His Body

LeBron James' work ethic and discipline are famous across the league. Recently, Luka Doncic also spoke about how shocked he was to see that James still arrives over 10 hours before game time at the arena. 

"Well, first of all, he shows up like 10 hours before the game. So that was really the main, like, I was, what? I came to the arena. He was already done working out. I was like, what?"

From his viral workout videos to such stories from teammates, it's clear that LeBron is dedicated to keeping up his fitness and maintaining his body. In 2018, James' close friend Maverick Carter revealed that James spends nearly $1.5 million per year on maintaining his body. He uses cryotherapy, hyperbaric chambers, NormaTec leg boots, etc. He also has personal chefs, trainers, etc. He has a strict routine and diet. He invested in his body, so he can still dominate at 40 years old.

In year 22 of his NBA career, James averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds in 70 games played in the regular season. James also averaged 25.4 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 5.6 assists in 5 games in the 2024-25 playoffs. This marked the first time since his rookie season that he averaged below 25.0 points per game in the regular season. James is undoubtedly still going strong at age 40.