USA Today via Reuters

The Los Angeles Lakers coach hiring saga is far from over. With a rejection from Dan Hurley in hand, the team is back to square one. It’s starting to feel like they might be running out of prospects. Rumors about potential candidates have been flying and among those rumors, people have taken the liberty to fantasize.

In a recent discussion on ‘Run it Back,‘ former NBA star Lou Williams hypothesized about a possibility many have often dreamt of LeBron James as a coach. But LeBron’s former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate Larry Nance Jr. did not seem to think so. His answer was endearing, “Im gonna say no. A lot of times, the very best have a hard time teaching others how to do something that comes naturally to them.” 

LeBron has always mentioned how grateful he is for the talent he was born with, but does this very talent make him incapable of understanding the hard work an average player might have to put in to get to the same level as King James?

Nance continued, “There are certain times he will have to explain something and it’s like “I just don’t understand how you don’t get that” you need someone that wasn’t the greatest player ever.” Is Nance right? Will LeBron find it harder to empathize with his disciples because he has never been in such a position? And if yes, does that stop him from passing on his prowess to the next generation?

Nance’s remarks highlight a viewpoint that is widely held in the sports world. Exceptional players frequently find it difficult to mentor others who do not have the same innate skills or basketball IQ. James, who is renowned for his remarkable physical strength and grasp of the game, may find it difficult to explain his observations to players who lack his special skill set. After all, he is King James for a reason.

LeBron James’ exceptional basketball IQ

LeBron did not just get to be the greatest player in the league by working hard; he is also blessed with the IQ needed for basketball. According to the player himself, he possesses a photographic memory, which allows him to remember the positions of all players on the court at any given moment during a 48-minute game.

In his podcast Mind the Game with JJ Redick, James revealed, “I could flip a play when I was eight years old. My coaches were blown away. I was born with a sports IQ, and it could’ve been any sport…basketball was the one I chose and maybe I was chosen to do that as well.“

USA Today via Reuters

His understanding of the game extends beyond his abilities, he watches the game and understands it. Former teammate Quinn Cook said, “He knows everybody. He could be the last guy on the bench on the team, but he knows he’s left-handed, he’s a shooter, don’t go under him, stuff like that. He pays attention to the game, he watches the game and he studies.”

LeBron James possesses a basketball IQ that is a rare combination of innate skill, hard work, photographic memory, and unwavering study of the game. His aptitude for basketball is something that very few can match.