For many, the G League is a league for young players trying to earn their stripes in hopes of being called up to the NBA, or for veterans clinging to their dreams of returning there. However, for LeBron James, the G League was a place to hone his skills, ramp up his conditioning level and prepare for the grind of the 2025-26 season.
James recently spoke about his experience practicing with the Lakers' G League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, emphasizing the importance of being committed to the grind.
Unparalleled love for the game
James' season debut was delayed after he sat out 14 games due to sciatica. As he neared his return, he was assigned to practice with the South Bay Lakers. While other superstars may have scoffed at the notion of sharing the floor with G League players, LeBron embraced the opportunity.
"I mean, it's part of my buildup, and it's part of my love of the game. Literally, it could have been the South Bay Lakers, or it could have been going to a recreation center and playing five-on-five versus guys," LeBron revealed.
After being limited to non-contact drills for some time, James relished the opportunity to play without restrictions, wherever it was.
"I had the luxury to have the South Bay Lakers here in town while our big guys are out on the road right now. So I was able to take advantage of it and be super humbled about it," he continued. "Going out there with those guys, going through the drills, offensive drills, defensive drills, shell drill, shooting drills, all types of things. So, just like a regular practice with the South Bay guys. And I'm super appreciative and humbled to be able to go out there and for them to change their practice a little bit to fit me as well."
One player who relished having James join them was recent Lakers call-up Drew Timme. After all, it's not every day an athlete of LeBron's stature comes and joins them.
"It was pretty crazy, man. I mean, that's the GOAT. To be able to share the court with him, especially being a G-League team, that's so outside of the normal, it was crazy," Timme recalled. "He came down, and our job was to help him get back into game speed, so we were just glad to help, and it was really cool to be able to hoop with him."
Nash praised James' humility
As mentioned, some players look at being assigned to the G League as a demotion. Not LeBron, who viewed his brief time in the development league as anything but.
This approach stood out to former league MVP Steve Nash, who lauded James for his humility and willingness to take on the challenge.
"I respect that you went down there and showed you don't have an ego about this at all. You just love to hoop. You want to get ready. You want to play. There's a message here for everybody. Whether you're a two-way, a first-round pick, a player in the league. This is what it's there for," Nash shared.
"There shouldn't be feeling a way about going down to play on the G-League team, practice with the G-League team, get reps. That's important for young players to hear. It's about the game. If you're putting ego or perception in the way of getting better, it's a disservice to yourself," he stressed.
James has proven throughout his career that he's all about winning at the highest levels. Despite having four NBA rings, he continues to grind at age 40 to earn a fifth, even if that means spending some time in the G League.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Nov 29, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.