Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James acknowledged he cannot explain how he remembers the personalized handshakes he shares with current and former teammates, some dating back nearly two decades.
Speaking on the latest episode of the “Mind the Game” podcast alongside co-host Steve Nash, the 21-time All-Star was asked how he keeps dozens of elaborate routines straight. “I have no **** idea,” James said. “I’ve been doing it for so long I don’t even know, man.”
James explained that he often tailors each greeting to a teammate’s personality or on-court skills. He cited rookie guard Dalton Knecht as an example: the pair finish their handshake with a bow-and-arrow motion, a nod to Knecht’s outside shooting and a 30-plus-point performance last season. Other routines, James added, are made up “off the top of the head.”
The four-time NBA champion noted that his habit began in childhood with friends he has known since age eight. Today, he can still perform handshakes created with teammates from as far back as 2008. “It’s weird that I can remember a lot of these,” he said. “It’s time consuming—I need to stop—but it’s cool.”
James’ handshake tradition was on display March 30, 2026, when he exchanged a tap with guard Bronny James during a first-half stoppage against the Washington Wizards at Crypto.com Arena. Cameras frequently capture similar exchanges with nearly every player on the Lakers roster.
While the 39-year-old has not confirmed whether he will return for the 2026-27 season, he reiterated that his lone motivation remains competing for another NBA championship.
Source: Lakers Nation
