James: I didn’t play point guard in high school. When I came to the NBA, I was confused when I saw people not passing the ball.

Basketball 10:38am, 9 October 2025 60

Today, the basketball podcast "Court Brain" owned by Lakers forward James aired the first episode of the third season. James talked about many topics with the host Nash.

When asked how he adapted to the appropriate reduction of ball rights at a young age, James said: "Yeah, but I also think it has to do with your coaches and the playing environment you grow up in. In high school, I didn't dominate the ball. So when I was being When I was drafted - I wasn't the point guard on our high school team, we had a point guard who went on to play college basketball and then went overseas and he was the all-time assist leader for Stuttgart in the German League

"So, I wasn't the point guard on that team. But we have this ability, we are passing and cutting, passing and dribbling and breaking through. If you don't have a shot, pass it out. Even though I'm the boss of the team, my mentality is never, 'I need to have the ball in my hands. ’ We win by executing our coach’s intentions and our system works. When I got to the NBA, things changed for me and I was confused about it. I don't think this is winning basketball. I know what winning basketball is. People say, ‘Oh, that’s how it goes from high school to the pros. ’ But great basketball and winning basketball have nothing to do with the level of play. That's something people really don't understand because they think the pro game is different than the high school game. The only difference is the size and talent of the players. But basketball intelligence and basketball knowledge are the same at any level.

"So when I was a little kid, when I was taught how to play basketball, from the beginning all the way through high school, I was taught that's how you should play the game. It's not -- now I love golf, but basketball is not golf or tennis, you have to rely on your teammates, you have to think about how to make the court These five guys fit together and do what's necessary to make the team successful. So when I came into the NBA, my rookie year, I was confused. I saw guys taking the ball all the way to the front court and not passing the ball. I was like, 'Oh, what is this style of play?'"

Mini-game recommendations:Battalion Commander 2