For all the greatness that LeBron James possesses in every fiber of his body, he’ll be the first to admit to everyone that he’s human, just like anybody else. He bleeds like anyone else and doubts his capabilities. However, the difference between the four-time league MVP and the average Joe is that he’s already mastered how to chase those negative thoughts away from his mind.
On a recent “Mind The Game” episode, he shared his method with two-time MVP Steve Nash, saying the best way to feel confident is to consistently do the work and stick to a process that will lead to a goal.
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Self-doubt is natural
Regardless of anyone’s line of work or stature, LeBron asserted that self-doubt is completely normal; it’s part of the human psyche. However, it could be detrimental if those negative thoughts begin to undermine a person’s ability to do his or her job well, especially in the cutthroat realm of competitive professional sports.
“There’s no way the human mind, in competitive sports or in life in general, doesn’t have self-doubt. And that’s okay,”Bron shared. “Everyone has self-doubt. It doesn’t matter what field you’re in. You could be a stay-at-home mom. You could be someone working on Wall Street. You could be a professional basketball player. You could be a nurse or a doctor.”
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“For me, it’s about how you manage those thoughts. If whatever you’re doing, whatever field you’re in — and ours happens to be professional sports — if you know you’re giving time to the process and putting in the work in order to get the results, then you’re okay with whatever happens. The win, the loss, the draw, whatever the case may be,” he added.
The King explained that the part that doesn’t make sense is when someone begins to expect things to happen when they haven’t actually worked on it—a lot like an NBA player expecting to make 40 percent of his 3-pointers when he doesn’t spend more time, before or after practice, working on his perimeter shot.
“That creates more self-doubt than anything,” LeBron stated. “Because you’re expecting results from things that you haven’t worked for.”
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A support system is crucial
While LeBron has proven capable of pulling off incredible feats of athletic brilliance over the course of his 23-year NBA career, it’s important to note that he wouldn’t have been able to sustain this level of excellence without a solid support system. While having the help of a team of trainers and therapists is vital, LeBron said that even having just somebody to talk to or bounce ideas off of greatly helps.
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“When you’re dealing with self-doubt, having someone you can talk to and say, ‘Hey, this is what I’m feeling. What’s your take on it? How would you handle it?’ can make a huge difference,” LeBron pointed out.
Nash chimed in, saying that the authenticity of the people around you makes a great deal of difference.
“The support system part is interesting too because that’s a tricky balance. You don’t want yes-men around you,” Nash stated. “At the same time, you need a space to vent. Sometimes you just need to get things off your chest, clear your mind, and then come back to the question of what you can do better.”
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There’s little doubt about LeBron’s stature in the NBA. Despite being 41, he proved that he could still compete at a very high level and help a team reach new heights. The only question now is whether he will still play in the league next season, and, more importantly, where.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Jun 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the Off The Court section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.