Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James says a single, anxiety-filled morning more than a decade ago convinced him to eliminate coffee from his diet for good.
Speaking on the Bob Does Sports show, the 41-year-old recalled an afternoon tipoff during his Miami Heat days—“I think it was 2012,” he said—when a poor night’s sleep prompted him to request a basic cup of coffee from his personal chef.
“We had a 12 noon start, and I was super tired,” James told the podcast. “My heart and my anxiety were racing all the way up until about 15 minutes before the game. I told my trainer, ‘I may have to sit this game out because I’m not calming down.’ I said, ‘Oh no, coffee’s not for me,’ and I haven’t had it since.”
James’ aversion to caffeine has not hindered his longevity. Now in Year 23, he remains one of the NBA’s most effective transition players and continues to take over games in stretches for Los Angeles.
Former Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra, who guided James to two championships in Miami, recently praised the veteran’s ability to “beat Father Time.” James echoed that sentiment on his 41st birthday, saying he believes he is still winning that battle.
Source: LakersNation.com
