(Image Source — Getty Images) LeBron James isn’t just prepping for another NBA season, he’s changing the offseason experience for a 40-year-old superstar. While fans typically look forward to intense training and endless court sessions, LeBron James has been embracing rest, family time, and, surprisingly, golf.This is a side of him we rarely get to see, and it makes you wonder, could this mix of mental challenges and recovery give him an upper hand over younger, more ambitious players this season?
LeBron James explains how Golf challenges his mind differently than basketball
LeBron James revealed golf’s role in his routine, saying to Nash, “I actually wanted to challenge my mind with something else, and I actually picked up golf a little bit. Obviously, the thing with golf is, this is the first time I’ve played an individual sport. There is no like, try to make sure your teammate is in the right spot, or I need a teammate to make the right play… It’s me versus each hole. And it is the most complicated mind f**k ever. I love that aspect of something that is so uncomfortable and so hard.”
Skinny Luka and LeBron’s New Lakers Outlook | MIND THE GAME
This points to a move away from team-based basketball, offering mental challenges that don’t involve physical contact.Earlier X posts from July and August 2025 had LeBron James sharing golf videos, emphasizing his increasing interest.
Austin Reaves offers Golf tips to LeBron James in Los Angeles Lakers preseason practice
During a timeout at a Los Angeles Lakers preseason game on October 6, 2025, LeBron James took some time to practice his golf swing and got some advice from his teammate Austin Reaves, which was all caught on videos shared on X.When reporters asked him about his offseason focus after practice on September 29, 2025, LeBron James jokingly said, “My golf swing,” but then he clarified that it was actually about catch-and-shoot 3-pointers.Golf Digest pointed out on October 6, 2025, that LeBron James is really ramping up his passion for the sport.
LeBron James Focuses on Rest and Recovery to Prepare for 82 Game Lakers Season
The “Mind the Game” podcast, produced by Uninterrupted and Wondery, is back for its third season! LeBron James and Nash are set to break down basketball strategies and share their personal journeys. In this episode, titled “LeBron on His Lakers Outlook and Skinny Luka,” Nash inquires about LeBron James’s summer routine, leading to some interesting insights about how he values rest over heavy training.LeBron James shared that after logging over 70,000 minutes in his career, he’s all about gradually ramping up to survive the 82-game season and playoffs. His approach includes family time, physical conditioning like weight training, Pilates, and yoga, while cutting back on court time.LeBron James told Nash, “I’m trying to stay off the court as much as possible. I’m trying to save it all,” pointing out energy conservation for the season’s “gauntlet” and “marathon.”He added, “That’s what I kinda did. I spent a lot of time with the family, played a lot of golf, obviously worked on my body all the time, stayed in the weight rooms. Pilates, yoga, all that type of stuff. I did touch the court, obviously. I wanted to keep my rhythm, keep my handles, see the ball go through the rim. I just wanted to kind of save knowing how much of a gauntlet it’s gonna be this year.”LeBron James stated to Nash, “I’ve kind of found a rhythm over the last few years and what works for me and what doesn’t work for me. I kinda got a good rhythm on what needs to be done.”The Los Angeles Lakers open their season on October 22, 2025, against the Golden State Warriors, where LeBron James’ refreshed approach will be tested.Also Read: LeBron James is lacking one thing in Los Angeles Lakers that he wasn’t anywhere else
