LeBron James has spent more than two decades setting the standard for longevity in the NBA, but one thing the Los Angeles Lakers star refuses to use for energy is coffee.
Despite entering the 23rd year of his career at the top level, James recently revealed that a bad experience during his Miami Heat days completely drained him of caffeine.
“No, when I was in Miami playing for the Heat we had the start of the first game,” James said during an interview with Bob Is Sports. “I think it was about twelve o’clock in the afternoon and I had a very bad sleep. So I woke up the next morning, I was very tired. I told my chef, I said, ‘Hey, I need something like coffee. Just give me the most basic coffee you can give me, I need a little bolt of energy.’
That decision was quickly reversed.
“And then I drank it, I got to the stadium and my heart was racing and my anxiety was racing. Like running, all the way to the point where I told my coach, ‘I might have to sit out this game because I’m not breathing. Until 15 minutes before the game started. My heart was racing, everything was racing, and I didn’t like coffee. That was the end of it. I haven’t had coffee since then. I think it was maybe 2012.”
For many players, caffeine is a common part of pre-game preparation, but James has clearly found a different formula.
Even at 41 years old, he is still one of the most dangerous transition players and continues to produce at an All-NBA level despite being the oldest player in the NBA.
James once joked that he felt like he was winning Father Time’s battle.
Given the production he still does without caffeine, it’s hard to argue otherwise.
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