Among those he has played with, NBA free agent Lance Stephenson claims that LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers has the best work ethic in the league.
Speaking on an IG Live session, Stephenson detailed his argument and highlighted how James is the ‘”first in everything.”
“I watched LeBron work out. Super professional. First one on the plane, first one at the meetings, first one at the workout, first one in the gym, he’s first in everything,” Lance Stephenson said of LeBron James, via The Score.
Prior to being on the same side with James, the two had some heated battles, particularly when James was with the Miami Heat while Stephenson was with the Indiana Pacers. Every LeBron fan knows the incident when Stephenson blew into the ear of the now Lakers star.
But when they became teammates, Stephenson had a new-found respect for The King. So much so that it affected his life on and off the court. When they were rivals, perhaps Stephenson thought that James was some overhyped athlete that he could stop at any given time.
It’s unfortunate that Stephenson spent just one year donning the Lakers’ Purple and Gold. However, he had been making waves in the CBA with Liaoning Flying Leopards prior to the league’s suspension. He even guided them to a title in the 2019 East Asia Super League Terrific 12 and was named the Most valuable player of the tournament.
Can we allude Stephenson’s success to James?
LeBron James sends important message about empowering kids
For Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, his I Promise School in Akron, Ohio is one of his most important projects to date. Recounting his tough childhood, James believes that it is imperative to empower kids.
In an IG Live session, James shared that there came a time when he questioned himself, particularly if there’s someone who actually believed in him and in his dreams. Citing this experience, James said that it is important to let kids know that they have the capacity to achieve anything.
“If kids know that you believe in them and that you love them and that you trust them, then they have the most powerful minds,” the Lakers superstar said.
Opened in 2018, the I Promise School (IPS) aims to support some of Akron’s most challenged students through education. Supported by the LeBron James Family Foundation, the school prioritizes students who are considered high-risk or may not have the opportunities to study, providing them with mentoring and the preparation to be successful in the future.
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic which has shut down most countries, James and his school have helped out students and their respective families who are affected by the lockdown. Per Mark Medina of USA Today, Executive Director of the LeBron James Family Foundation Michelle Campbell shared how the Lakers forward initiated to keep the school open to help those affected by the city-wide lockdowns.
“‘We need to make that happen,’” Campbell told USA TODAY Sports about James’ recent conversation with her. “‘We need to do whatever we can to make that happen and make these services to stay open.’”
The I Promise School partnered with Smuckers and Akron Food Bank to hand out basic necessity packages to its 1,443 enrolled students and their families. Also, the school’s Family Resource Center remains open for any families that need shelter, clothing, medical care, and mental health assistance.
