NBA legend LeBron James has stunned fans with a surprising personal revelation about a ritual he follows during the NBA Finals. Known for his dominance in high-pressure games, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar, now 40 years old, has played in 10 NBA Finals over his extraordinary 22-year career.
On a recent podcast co-hosted by Hall of Famer Steve Nash, LeBron opened up about a superstition he’s followed consistently throughout his Finals appearances — one that involves keeping his family away from games unless it’s a potential title-clincher.
“I never let my family come to a Finals game unless it was a closeout game,” he said, as reported by Marca.
Explaining the reasoning behind the ritual, LeBron emphasized how important mental focus is during those crucial moments.
“If something happened in the stands with my family, it would very easily knock me out of my lockdown zone. Unless it was the closeout game, my family stayed home,” he added.
A Career Full of Records
LeBron James stands among the greatest basketball players of all time. He is a four-time NBA champion and has won four NBA Finals MVP Awards, with championship titles spanning across three franchises: the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, and Los Angeles Lakers.
Between 2011 and 2018, LeBron made eight consecutive Finals appearances, a feat few in the league have achieved. In 2023, he led the Lakers to victory in the inaugural NBA Cup.
He also holds the title of the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and has added to his legacy with three Olympic gold medals as part of the U.S. national team.
Despite a stellar record, the 2024–25 NBA season ended on a disappointing note for LeBron, as the Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.