KEY POINTS

  • Mark Jackson shares an unforgettable story about a high school LeBron James
  • Jackson is convinced James was not just a hyped-up player in the NBA
  • The Lakers superstar’s high school coach also has the same take on his former player

A former Golden State Warriors head coach knew long ago that LeBron James was the real deal.

Mark Jackson was best known for being Reggie Miller’s co-backcourt with the Indiana Pacers and for being one of the famous in-game voices of ESPN.

Some may not remember, but Jackson also ran the Warriors as head coach for three seasons.

Being a coach, “Action” is quite keen on determining potential talents, including that of a young LeBron James.

Speaking to Shannon Sharpe in a recent appearance on “Club Shay Shay,” Jackson recounted the time a former teammate told him that then-high school basketball prodigy James doesn’t have the x-factor and will just be “hyped up” by the NBA.

“I can remember playing for a team, and LeBron [James] was in high school, and he was on TV,” Jackson recalled. “And I came into the locker room the next day, and I said ‘this guy is going to be special.’ And [my teammate] he’s like, ‘no, this guy is going to be hyped up and he’s going to fall short because they’re giving him everything.’ I’m like, ‘Did you watch the guy I saw last night on TV?' He has no weaknesses in his game.”

Convinced that he was right about James, Jackson went on to rave about the four-time NBA MVP’s overall qualities, something he stressed is being taken “for granted” by many.

“This guy is as good as it gets, and we truly take him for granted,” the former NBA Rookie of the Year said of James. “The same way we do all our greats, but he’s a guy that’s done it the right way and continues to take pride in finishing the proper way. He should be celebrated and acknowledged. We truly do take him for granted. He’s special.”

NBA superstar LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers was among the US sports figures who posted social media messages expressing outrage at the death of a Minnesota man after a policeman kneeled on his neck for several minutes
NBA superstar LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers was among the US sports figures who posted social media messages expressing outrage at the death of a Minnesota man after a policeman kneeled on his neck for several minutes GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Mike Stobe

Jackson may have a point, but if there’s someone who can really describe James during his high school days, it was his St. Vincent-St. Mary high school coach Keith Dambrot.

According to Dambrot, James didn’t have any problem dealing with the "hype" as he never failed to deliver since day one.

“He’s one of the few guys that’s lived up to the hype,” Dambrot told DK Pittsburgh Sports of James last year. “He was hyped up like no one else has ever been coming out of high school. He lived up to every ounce of it.”

“If LeBron wanted to lead the league in rebounding he could lead the league in rebounding,” the coach added. “If he wanted to be the defensive player of the year, he could be the defensive player of the year. There’s not one thing this guy can’t do if he wants to do it. The question is, can he do it all? He picks and chooses what he has to do to win.”

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