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LeBron James discusses his "Forever King" tour in China, new sneaker launch, golf aspirations, career inspirations, superstitions, and his enduring identity as "the kid from Akron" in this engaging interview.
Published September 18, 2025
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LeBron James
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Interviewer: The name of this show is 360 with Speedy. And today I am joined by one of the greatest athletes to ever play sports. LeBron James is in the building. What's up, man? How are you?
Interviewer: Beautiful view. The people at home don't know that we are currently in Shanghai, China. LeBron: What the hell you got us doing out here? I'm out here with Nike, man, doing a Forever King tour out here in China, a couple cities. First stop in Shanghai. Just about the game of basketball, always inspiring the youth, but also out here on a shoe launch, I got a new sneaker that's dropping in LeBron 23, which is a big moment for me. Number I've worn pretty much my whole career.
LeBron: Number I've worn pretty much my whole career. You're obviously inspired by MJ. You know, so, no way out here, man.
Interviewer: Do you still not buy the international data when you paddle? LeBron: No. Still no. Interviewer: So you've got no service on your phone? LeBron: I got Wi-Fi in the hotel. But that's it. That's it.
Interviewer: When you think about accolades, right? Four-time NBA champ, four-times finals MVP, 20-plus all-stars, all-time leading scorer. I can rest well at night knowing that you're ass at golf. The fact that you suck at golf right now makes me feel like, all right, he is actually important. LeBron: Oh, yeah, for sure. For sure.
Interviewer: What is it about golf, man, that you rock with it so much? LeBron: It's hard as shit. Yeah. That's exactly why, man. I wanted a challenge, man. And I like being uncomfortable, man. It's something that's fun, too. Golf is, like, one of the few places where I can go where I don't get bothered as much.
LeBron: I did golf out here. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was great until we got rained out, bro. Oh, yesterday. Yeah, yesterday. It was pouring rain. Pouring rain. And then we tried to, we waited for the rain to stop. We went back out. It rained for a little bit longer. We started back up, and then it got hot as shit. And then it got, like, we was like, okay. Interviewer: So y'all just called it. LeBron: Yeah, we got to call it.
Interviewer: When you think about your trajectory, like, from the beginning, your very first year playing organized sports, you won a chip in football. You won a chip in basketball. Greatness started very early for you. But I'm wondering, what was the moment that you felt like, oh, my ability is actually just better than everyone else? How early did that moment happen? LeBron: Wow. I mean, I don't want to say that first year. Because that first year. If you felt the year one, wow. I just knew that I was a lot faster and bigger. And I don't want to say stronger yet, because I was still a little skinny kid then. But, like, my first year playing organized football ever, we played six games. And I got the MVP that year. I had 18 touchdowns in six games. Like, and then right in that fall, the basketball season started. My first year ever playing organized basketball, we went 6-0, won a championship. And the only reason my coach still today, back then he gave everybody the MVP. Clearly, I was the MVP. But it was dope as hell. But I would say, man, like, I don't know. I don't know. I think, I mean, I was out there doing shit that I just, I shouldn't have been doing. So I thought I was pretty special then. But probably, like, eighth grade. I went to an AAU national tournament in Orlando, Florida. It was me and six other kids from the Northeast Ohio region, mostly from Akron, to be honest. Like, five of us from Akron, maybe four of us from Akron, three of us, three kids from, like, the Cleveland, Brexville area. And we went and played in the AAU nationals, which was the, you know, the big, big time, you know, national tournament where it was, like, 120 teams, whatever, down in Orlando, Florida, at the Worldwide of Sports. And we finished second, bro. Like, it was, like, motherfuckers, like, nigga, you happy about finishing second? Fuck yeah. Like, six, seven kids from Akron, Ohio, Northeast Ohio. And we lost to a team from Southern California. Like, you know, and at that point in time in that tournament, like, I was, like, doing things that I hadn't did the summer before. I had finally started dunking in games. We started winning games that we wasn't supposed to be winning. I was making moves out on the floor and doing things that I was, like, dreaming about a couple weeks before that. I was like, oh, shit, this is happening. Yeah, it's happening. You know, so I think that was the moment.
Interviewer: You were on the New Heights podcast, and you were asked, like, your biggest inspirations. So I'm just wondering, what was it about Will Smith from Fresh Prince, Michael Jordan from the Bulls, Jay-Z, Biggie, Tupac, and myself that motivated you? LeBron: Yeah, yeah, I mean, Speedy, you're definitely number one. Thank you, brother. You know, I appreciate it. You inspire me from, you know, from now on. I just think, you know, those are, like, guys, like, when you grow up in the inner city, bro, and there's not much inspiration, like, around, you have to, I think for me, I found inspiration on the outside. And I thought Will Smith was, like, somebody that I inspired, I wish I could become. Like, I was, like, I feel like I'm a hood nigga. And he was super fly. Yeah, super fly. Jay's on TV. Had the dopest sneakers. Had his hat on backwards. You know, going to a prep school, got it inside out. Yeah. I was like, that's super cool. I could be myself and still be with, you know, in the burbs. You know what I'm saying? So, like, I resonated. And I was, like, a funny, outgoing kid. So I was like, that's super dope. So, obviously, Jordan, you know, you know, Deion Sanders, like, you know, Deion always said it, like, when you look good, you play good. And when you play good, they pay good. Like, come on now. What are we talking about? Like, and then, like, hip-hop and sports are, like, literally, like, twins. Identical twins. Hip-hop artists want to be people in sports. Sports guys want to be rappers, you know. So, like, being inspired by Biggie and Pac and Jay-Z and Nas, you know, like those guys being, you know, just hearing the storytelling and the things that they was going through at the time. You know, there's moments when I was a kid that I needed that. DMX was somebody also. Like, I needed Flesh of My Flesh, Blood of My Blood at the time. And then there was X. I needed both of those albums in the same year.
Interviewer: You, I heard, are, like, super superstitious. Like, before the game, you lay the jersey out and, like, nobody can step over it. Is that, like, a real thing for you? LeBron: Yeah, that's a real thing. Interviewer: How do, like, how do the superstitions play into you knowing, like, oh, I'm about to go off tonight? Is it work in that way or is it just you're always the same? LeBron: I am always the same unless I feel something is off. So, like, I will lay my uniform out the same way before every game. I will pick a shoe that I'm going to wear according sometimes to either the opponent or the team. If I'm playing a certain player, a specific shoe may get worn that night just because of, you know, my competitive nature. Interviewer: Like a colorway or something? LeBron: Yeah, like a colorway. Yeah, like a colorway. That year, that colorway. But if I go out in warm-ups and I feel a certain way and the shoes don't feel right, I will absolutely run back to the locker room and change before the game starts. Or if I'm shitty in the first quarter. They're getting swapped out. They're getting swapped out.
Interviewer: A night where you have your career high, 61, or like another 50-ball, 40. Are you always knowing prior to the game, like, oh, tonight is like going to be one of them nights? LeBron: No. No. Interviewer: It just happens, man. LeBron: No, you don't, you don't know. Last, was it last year or the year before? I did, I had a good feeling. We played Brooklyn and Brooklyn. I had my career high for threes, man. I think I was nine for ten. LeBron's teammate: I was there for that game. LeBron: It was there for that one. So, I absolutely felt the energy, like, in the building. Like, when I'm in Brooklyn, man, like, Brooklyn really, like, they rock with me, you know? So, I just try to give it back to them with the energy, with the game. And I definitely walked out on the floor during warm-ups like, oh, damn, this feels, this feels a little different. Like, you know, my bounce was a little bit different. My step was a little bit different. I was like, this could be one of those nights. It don't always happen that way. Interviewer: Right. LeBron: But the fact that it did happen that way, I could be here and tell the story, you know what I'm saying? Yeah, I knew it. Yeah, I felt it. I felt it.
Interviewer: So, like, sometimes you know, basically. LeBron: Yeah, sometimes, yeah. Interviewer: My probably all-time favorite LeBron be lying moment is when you was like, yo, Kobe's out there, but I knew he was going to score 70 there. LeBron: Bro, I'm telling you. I'm telling you. People, every time I say something, everyone thinks it's a fucking lie. I got homies that was literally at the house with me when Kobe was dropping to 81. When he got 60, we watching the game. I'm like, oh, shit. Yo, he might go for 80 tonight. No, I'm telling you. I got homies. We could call on the phone. What time is there now? Back in the States? I got homies that was literally in my room. I lived in the house in Ohio at the time that's now torn down. That's now the big house. We sat in a small room watching the game, and I was like, oh, shit, Kobe going for 80 tonight. And he really did go for 80. He went for 81. He went for 81, so I did lie. Interviewer: Right. LeBron: Yeah, I was wrong.
Interviewer: But now that you're sitting in front of me, I believe you based off of the body language. I'm telling you. But when I seen the clip, I'm like, just, nigga, who are you? I'm telling you, bro. I'm telling you, bro. I'm telling you. For real. It's crazy. I saw a clip. You said something like Kobe tricked you for, like, five years straight. LeBron: Oh, yeah, with the whole, yeah, yeah, yeah. I thought it was like, you know, because one thing about me, people know when they play me, like, I read, I know all the plays. I read the scouting reports. I, like, I do a deep dive in it. So, like, for forever, I thought it was just, like, a call that he was calling that Phil Jackson was like, you know, Phil like Kobe, you know, how you used to do it with Mike. Triangle offense. Man, I realized that shit was, give me the ball and everybody get the fuck out of the way. I'm about to bust Brown's ass. I didn't realize that. I don't know. I don't know. See, that's the, I get, my game and my IQ get into and get my way sometimes. And I'm, I'm trying to steal signals and stuff from, from Kobe and the bench over there. His ass is like, nah, this is a one-on-one moment. Really a not play call at all. Interviewer: At all. LeBron: It's just getting out of the way. Interviewer: That is, that means move, get out the hell, get out the hell out of the way. LeBron: And I'm about to go, I'm about to go at him.
Interviewer: I want to throw three of my favorite LeBron, uh, like social media moments at you. Okay, for sure. Just like react to them and let me know maybe what was happening in actuality. Okay. Cool. Okay. The first one, you sitting with two beautiful women and you start off by saying, first of all, happy International Women's Day. Absolutely. Is that actually what happened in real life? Cause that is like the ultimate meme, like dudes use that when they slide in a girl's DMs or like all type of shit. LeBron: No, it was just a moment. It was, it is what it is. It is what it was. And I mean, to be completely honest, the two women, one is Jeannie Buss and Linda Rambis, two of the greatest people in sports. Uh, you know, and, uh, I went over there and just, I wasn't playing that night. Unfortunately, I was injured. And that's kind of like the first thing that came to my mind. It was asked, was it International Women's Day? I believe it was. I believe it was too. First of all, yeah. Happy International Women's Day. Yeah, I believe it was. And then the conversation started. I guess it was a conversation breaker. Interviewer: Yeah, like an icebreaker. LeBron: It was an icebreaker.
Interviewer: Two, uh, ain't that our ball? LeBron: Oh, man. Interviewer: Ain't that our ball? Our ball. That's our ball. That's my ball. LeBron: Listen, we're in the bubble, first of all. And if anybody know about these bubble stories, I've told them. Listen, it was a mind fuck. In the bubble. But at the end of the day, I'm trying to win it. We're trying to win a game and win a championship. And for some hour, I wasn't in the game then. But I knew when we came off the court, it was our ball. Right. It was our ball. It was our ball, for sure. And when we, they, the whistle blew and the other team was taking the ball out and had the ball. LeBron's teammate: Wait a second. LeBron: What the fuck? Like, what the hell? What the fuck is going on? Like, and I just, I mean, you gotta see the video now. You gotta, yeah. Interviewer: That shit is so funny. But the fact that you're the only one who peeped it and there was 10 guys on the court. LeBron: Right. Interviewer: So what are we doing? What are we doing? Where's my teammates? Why y'all not like me? LeBron: Yeah, what's up? Everybody lock in. Come on now.
Interviewer: My final interview or internet moment from you. And this is like low key one. It's when you were executive producing 2 Chainz's album. And you was like, thank you guys so much for rocking with us on this journey. You know what? Here go two more for y'all. It's like LeBron invented the deluxe album. LeBron: Listen, but I'm not, I'm, I'm a music guy who loves music. But at the time, I don't know the ins and outs on what makes a deluxe album. I just thought like, we're in the studio all night. Like, Chainz is talking about, you know, we're talking about the album and how the songs could be, you know, placed and how the flow could be going. And it was two tracks that wasn't going to make the final cut that I really fucking liked. Obviously, he liked, he made them. So like at that moment, obviously, you know, obviously you see what was cut after that. But in my mind, I'm like, bro, like you got to re-release them and let's do the, you got to do the deluxe. They got to go on the, you know, everybody, I don't know that I'm not a real A&R guy that sits behind and like mix matches songs. But I do know music. So that's what came out of that one. But that shit was funny, y'all. You know two more. Interviewer: Yeah, two more.
Interviewer: I feel like the only time where I actually see your age is when you're trying to memorize rap lyrics. You and lyrics, it's like you'll know like every third word. But like the other two. That's just the new shit. Like the other two. LeBron: That's just the new shit. I, the new rappers, I hear the melody. I hear the rap. Sometimes they lose me, but then I can get it back. You catch it back because you hit the punchline word. Guarantee you take me back to the 90s, early 2000s. I can rap a whole song of an artist for sure. Front to back. No question about it. These new rappers, sometimes they just, they lose me for a little bit. They bring me back. Yeah. But they lose me for a little bit. Bro, that pop smoke lyrics, and a day for the day. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Pop, you know, rest in peace, the late great pop smoke we had. But you lost me, champ. You lost me. Absolutely.
Interviewer: Someone you have been friends with seemingly forever, Drake. Y'all cool? What's the status there? Is this someone you always have love for? LeBron: Always. Always. Always wish him the best. Obviously, different places right now, currently. He's doing his thing. I'm doing mine. But it's always love, for sure.
Interviewer: Savannah, your wife, you guys have been locked in seemingly forever at this point. What would you say is, like, the secret to, like, having wifey, you know, holding it down, you holding her down? You're, like, the only, it's, like, picture perfect, it seems. LeBron: But it's not, man, Speedy. I'm going to be honest. Relationship is never picture perfect. But if you're able to work through, if you're okay with working through the hardships and the adverse moments, then it will make it all worth it, man. Like, we've been together since high school, so shit ain't going to always be a bed of roses, man, in any relationship. You know, let alone someone that you're living with for over 20 years. So, you know, I think communication is number one. You know, being honest is number two. Number three is just, like, you have to be, you have to be okay with being uncomfortable in relationships sometimes, man. You can't always have it your way. You can't always think that, you know, my way or the highway, it's never going to work that way, you know. They're saying happy, happy wife, happy life, that shit real, bro. But also, like, you know, shit, happy husband. Happy loving. Yeah, there you go. We made that up on the top, my boy. I know, that's why you're not Speedy, man. That was quick. Yeah. But for real, like, you know. There you go. There you go. But, like, for real, like, it's not going to be a bed of roses. And if you're okay with going through, you know, going through the rain, can you stay in the rain, champ? Can you stay in the rain, man?
Interviewer: They said it. Who is, do you think, the best player you've ever guarded on any level of basketball? LeBron: On any level of basketball? Right. Oh, man. A kid that we grew up with is, like, our brother now. His name is Derek Tarver. You know, we all grew up on the same side of town. But when we were all growing up, he's older than me. He's Maverick's age. So he's, like, two or three years older than me. Same age as Maverick. But, like, he was just stronger than everybody at, like, fucking 10. Like, 10 years old, lefty, brolic, stronger than everybody. And you knew what he was going to do. And there was no way he was going to stop it. LeBron's teammate: He was cooking you back then? LeBron: Cooking. Yeah, for sure. Cooking. Cooking. He still think he can cook me now. And when he see this, he's going to be like, I can still cook you now. He can't cook me no more, though.
Interviewer: Man, entering year 23. You started to play golf now. It's your 23rd shoot. Yeah. You're on the Forever King tour. These things seem to have some sort of commonality. Are you hinting something at us? LeBron: No, I'm not. You know, I'm not hinting at anything. I mean, obviously, I know I'm on the other side of the hump. The hump, for sure. They're like, come on now. Like, I'm not going to play another 23 years. That's for damn sure. And I'm not going to play another 10. So I'm definitely gearing up to where the end is. I'm not there yet. But I'm super blessed to be able to, you know, sit here. Like I said, you said, year 23. Another signature shoe. I'm going to pick up golf. Listen, guys, every time I pick up something new does not mean retirement. It's like, oh, I'll see this motherfucking with chopsticks. Oh, he's retiring. Oh, I'll see any wear a t-shirt that's too big. Oh, retirement. Oh, shit. He picked up golf. Retirement. It's like, it's just something I want to do. It's just a little hobby. But retirement is coming. It is coming. Interviewer: It's just not here just yet.
Interviewer: Bro, you've been famous, like so famous for so long at this point. I asked The Rock this question, but I'm curious your vantage point about it. Like, normalcy. Yeah. Life devoid of fame. Is it something that you remember ever living, or has it been so long that it's just like you can't even remember a life before it? LeBron: No, it's been so long. I mean, I do remember moments when I was growing up in inner city and grew up in Elizabeth Projects in Akron, Ohio, on the north side. And I remember running around there and just like, just being a kid, just, you know, going outside, running around, playing tag. We had a game called Free Frog where we throw the ball up. Whoever catches, try to run to the end zone, playing ball, on the monkey bars, just being regular. Interviewer: But it's crazy that those memories of you being not famous is only from when you're a child. LeBron: Oh, yeah. That's all right. That stopped probably about my sophomore. After I won a state championship my freshman year, the start of my sophomore year, that ended, that was over with.
Interviewer: Do you miss it at all? Do you ever have a moment you wish you could shut it off? LeBron: Yeah, of course. Of course. Like you, I wish I could just like sometimes walk into a movie theater just like before the lights go off. You know what I'm saying? Or just go to an amusement park. Like my daughter wanted to go to amusement parks all the time. Like, babe, I love you. It's not going to happen. The nanny will take you. It's not going to happen. I'm not going to be able to enjoy myself and then it makes my daughter weird and out about it and shit. Like, so, but it's cool, man. Like, I find times to be able to do things that I still like to do. It's not like I'm sheltered. I'm not sitting here crying for help. Please come help me get out of the house. Like, I love, I love my life, bro. My family, I'll take care of my family. Family take care of me. We find moments where we can still enjoy life. And I wouldn't, I wouldn't trade it for the world, for sure, obviously.
Interviewer: You've been getting money for a long time. And I got more to get. I see. I mean, the richer. LeBron: You know, I got more to get, you know. Interviewer: A quick Google search says that your net worth is 1.2 billion. Now, y'all want me to start lying? Be you? LeBron: Google search is a lie. That is a lie. That's wrong. Yeah, it's wrong. Interviewer: Is it more or is it less? LeBron: Oh, it's way less. Oh. Yeah, it's way less.
LeBron: Okay. It's way less. It's a couple, like, thousand in my bank. That's it. I got a couple thousand. That's my room key. I am free for me. Everything. Everything I got on free. Interviewer: Everything. I heard you, with the young king, Chris is his name. How much for the shirt? LeBron: Free. Interviewer: Free. How much for the pants? LeBron: Yo, I'm telling you. The richer wasn't free. LeBron: No way. This is free. This is LeBron edition, Richard Mill. Interviewer: Is this actually a LeBron edition? LeBron: Yes. Then it probably was free. Listen, you see my wedding band? They say my queen. Free. Hat. Wave cap. Dewey. Free. Listen, forever king. It's free forever king me. I ain't got no money, man. I'm broke, baby. My kids got all the money now. NILs and shit. They got all the money. They take care of dad now. I ain't got none. I'm broke.
Interviewer: At one point, your goal was to make the NBA. Yeah. You made it. I'm sure you had a goal to be an all-star. You made it. You had a goal to be an MVP. You made it. I'm wondering, beyond basketball, what is a new goal for LeBron? And don't hit me with a, oh, just to be happy. What's a tangible goal that LeBron has today? LeBron: Wow. Shit. To be happy. I mean, that is the ultimate, but that's the ultimate. Interviewer: I understand. You know what I mean? Like, I want to IPO a company and sell it for a billion. LeBron: Or I want to play on the celebrity golf. Yeah. No, no. I want to continue to build the greatest storytelling company there is. And we've been putting that work in uninterrupted. We've been doing it. And, you know, we do all type of shows and we do podcasts now. We do movies and TV show, everything. Cartoons, everything. But I want to build, like... Like the Pixar. Yeah, man. Like, when people start, like, wanting to come up with ideas, they think of us. They want to pitch it to us. You know what I'm saying? Like, and that comes from, like, that Fresh Prince of Bel-Air moment. Like, you know, that Will Smith and, you know, that Biggie, Nas, that storytelling. Like, you know, that's that inspiration right there. And I want to build that for not only just, not only for athletes, but, like, shit. Like, when you decide to do a show, you know, you think of uninterrupted, man. You think of... Y'all hollered at me every time. Yeah, see, all right. See, that's what I'm saying. So, like, we want to build that. So, whoever, whatever, people want to create something, they think of us. You know, I feel like Disney and all those, they've done enough. They got enough.
Interviewer: My final question for you, man. When your kids have kids and they have kids... Now you're calling... Why are you doing that to me right now? I'm trying to rush you to get older. Yeah, damn. But it comes full circle, but when your kids have kids and their kids have kids, do you feel like you'll still be the kid from Akron? LeBron: I'll always be the kid from Akron. Always. Always. I still got the most energy in the household. My daughter's catching me. She is catching me. But I still got the most energy. I'm playful as hell. Like, we all... I just be... I just be fucking with people all the time in my household. So, like, I'm always going to be the kid from Akron. And even when my grandkids hit the town, even when my kids get older, you know, I'm always be... You know, it's almost like, you know, King Griffey Jr. You know, they always call him the kid. Interviewer: Yeah. LeBron: You know, he's always the kid, no matter what. You know, so... It's pretty cool, man. The kid from Akron. The kid from Akron. Brian, I appreciate you taking the time. I appreciate you, man. Appreciate you. Yes, sir. LeBron's teammate: Appreciate you, bro. I must be really cool, man. I get to sit and talk with you, hon. No, it's my honor. Yeah, shit. It's my honor.
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