On any given night, LeBron James can easily play more than 40 minutes for the Miami Heat. When the Heat are up big, they take the opportunity to rest their biggest star for a bit. But if the game remains close, LeBron has no problem running up and down the court for 44 minutes.
So what’s the secret? For starters, King James has been riding his bike to and from home games this season. He played 42 minutes in a 103-92 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night and said he still felt fresh afterword.
“I felt great,” James said according to the Sun Sentinel. “I didn’t get tired. I don’t think I got tired (Tuesday) night. I felt great. I could have played again if we had to. Yeah, I’ve been biking a little more than usual. It’s fun. It’s also conditioning, it’s cardio.”
LeBron was spotted riding his bike to a game last season and has apparently enjoyed it so much that it has become part of his game day routine. Coach Erik Spoelstra said he would have liked the Heat to build a bigger lead so he could have given LeBron more rest, but that James “wasn’t even breathing heavy” when the game was over.
You may be thinking, “Yeah, big whoop,” but LeBron riding his bike to games shows a commitment to his conditioning. It would be just as easy for someone who makes that type of money to take a private helicopter to the arena, but instead he fights through traffic like a “normal” person would.
“I got lights on my bike,” James said. “I’m serious. This isn’t a joke. Of course, safety first.”
And look at that — he’s even setting a good example for the kids.
Photo via @MiamiUrbanist
