LeBron James finally sets the record straight on the legendary pickup game he played as a teen with Michael Jordan and other stars.
NBA superstar LeBron James has finally opened up about the iconic pickup game he played as a 16-year-old high schooler alongside Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan and other basketball greats.
During an appearance on the New Heights podcast, hosted by NFL star Travis Kelce and his brother Jason, LeBron admitted he was “nervous as hell” stepping onto the court surrounded by such legendary icons like Michael Jordan, Antoine Walker, Penny Hardaway, Ron Artest, and Michael Finley.
Despite the nerves, the Los Angeles Lakers star revealed he quickly found his rhythm and delivered a “crazy” performance. “Nobody guarded me—I was unguardable,” LeBron said when asked by Travis Kelce who was defending him.
He added, “When I finally got out there, I was like, ‘I’m bustin’ ass, man.’ I was nervous as hell, being out there with MJ and the rest of those guys. But I was like, ‘I’m about to go crazy,’ and I did, I did.”
Michael Jordan, a six-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls, was known for organizing offseason pickup games that featured a mix of NBA stars and promising young prospects, providing them with a taste of elite competition.
Ron Artest, now Metta Sandiford-Artest confirmed this incident
Last year, Metta Sandiford-Artest, formerly known as Ron Artest, reflected on LeBron James’s remarkable impact during Michael Jordan’s legendary pickup game. Speaking on Podcast P with Paul George, the 2010 NBA champion, who is five years older than LeBron, admitted being awestruck by the then-teenager’s extraordinary talent.
“Everybody knew who he was—he was, like, famous,” Sandiford-Artest said.
He recalled how LeBron immediately stood out, both in stature and skill. “He was bigger than all of us in the gym. So he’s coming into the gym, and I’m like, ‘Alright, cool, I want to see what he’s got.’”
According to Sandiford-Artest, LeBron didn’t disappoint. “He was cooking. He was 15 or 16, posting, getting to the basket, and I’m like, ‘This is going to be a huge issue.’ And for sure, it was.”
