LeBron: "Kobe was my Idol in High School"
Posted: Thu May 14, 2009 4:26 pm
Dan Patrick interview.
-- Dan asked LeBron who his idol was growing up in high school. LeBron says it was Kobe Bryant.
-- LeBron said when he was young, he would pretend he was Michael Jordan when he was shooting around for fun. Dan asks him why not Kobe? LeBron says that Kobe hadn't hit many game-winners yet (Kobe was still approximately 20-21 years old at that time). LeBron said what Jordan did to Craig Ehlo 20 years ago, it was just unfair.
-- Regarding Jordan's shot against Ehlo, Dan asked LeBron if he's felt sorry for anyone in guarding him in today's game. "I felt sorry for the Toronto Raptors when Kobe Bryant scored 81 points on them."
-- Dan asked LeBron to build his dream team:
PG: Magic Johnson
SG: Michael Jordan
SF: LeBron James
PF: Kevin Garnett
C: Shaquille O'Neal (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar a close 2nd)
HC: James Naismith
-- Dan asked why he didn't pick Kobe, and LeBron says that his ultimate dream was to be able to play alongside Jordan; felt sad he had to snub Oscar Robertson too.
Other Topics:
-- Dan asked LeBron if winning a title would make it harder or easier to leave Cleveland. "It's hard to answer that question," LeBron said. "I'm happy in Cleveland, and grateful for the Cavaliers management." But James didn't sound like he had reached any kind of decision about his future.
-- Dan asked LeBron if the Cavs were having fun during their playoff run. James' answer is interesting, considering some of the criticism Cleveland has gotten for celebrating too much. "We have a good time playing basketball," James said. "We don't disrespect the game of basketball."
-- James says with the time off, the Cavs have a lot of time to come up with some good celebrations. LeBron liked Dan's two ideas: the Soul Train line dance, and the old school firm hand shake. We'll see if he uses either of those in the next round.
-- LeBron also had some interesting things to say about last-second shots. "It doesn't have to end with me taking the last shot," LeBron said. "Whatever benefits the team." LeBron said he'd rather make the pass to the guy who hits the game-winner than hit the shot himself."
-- Dan asked LeBron he was going to take 40 shots in a game, how many points could he score, LeBron says about 65-70 points (I personally think at least 90 with all the FT's he's gonna end up taking).
-- Dan asked If LeBron wins a title: "One of the greatest accomplishment of my life."
-- Dan asked If LeBron doesn't win a title: "There's always room for improvement."
Good and really fun interview!
-- Dan asked LeBron who his idol was growing up in high school. LeBron says it was Kobe Bryant.
-- LeBron said when he was young, he would pretend he was Michael Jordan when he was shooting around for fun. Dan asks him why not Kobe? LeBron says that Kobe hadn't hit many game-winners yet (Kobe was still approximately 20-21 years old at that time). LeBron said what Jordan did to Craig Ehlo 20 years ago, it was just unfair.
-- Regarding Jordan's shot against Ehlo, Dan asked LeBron if he's felt sorry for anyone in guarding him in today's game. "I felt sorry for the Toronto Raptors when Kobe Bryant scored 81 points on them."
-- Dan asked LeBron to build his dream team:
PG: Magic Johnson
SG: Michael Jordan
SF: LeBron James
PF: Kevin Garnett
C: Shaquille O'Neal (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar a close 2nd)
HC: James Naismith
-- Dan asked why he didn't pick Kobe, and LeBron says that his ultimate dream was to be able to play alongside Jordan; felt sad he had to snub Oscar Robertson too.
Other Topics:
-- Dan asked LeBron if winning a title would make it harder or easier to leave Cleveland. "It's hard to answer that question," LeBron said. "I'm happy in Cleveland, and grateful for the Cavaliers management." But James didn't sound like he had reached any kind of decision about his future.
-- Dan asked LeBron if the Cavs were having fun during their playoff run. James' answer is interesting, considering some of the criticism Cleveland has gotten for celebrating too much. "We have a good time playing basketball," James said. "We don't disrespect the game of basketball."
-- James says with the time off, the Cavs have a lot of time to come up with some good celebrations. LeBron liked Dan's two ideas: the Soul Train line dance, and the old school firm hand shake. We'll see if he uses either of those in the next round.
-- LeBron also had some interesting things to say about last-second shots. "It doesn't have to end with me taking the last shot," LeBron said. "Whatever benefits the team." LeBron said he'd rather make the pass to the guy who hits the game-winner than hit the shot himself."
-- Dan asked LeBron he was going to take 40 shots in a game, how many points could he score, LeBron says about 65-70 points (I personally think at least 90 with all the FT's he's gonna end up taking).
-- Dan asked If LeBron wins a title: "One of the greatest accomplishment of my life."
-- Dan asked If LeBron doesn't win a title: "There's always room for improvement."
Good and really fun interview!