Troy Brown Jr. revealed how impressed he was with LeBron James' physique the first time they met on the court.
As the Los Angeles Lakers gear up for the upcoming season, Troy Brown Jr., one of the latest additions to the side during the offseason relived his memory of playing against LeBron James for the first time.
Brown Jr. signed with the Lakers after donning the Chicago Bulls jersey last season. He was initially selected with the 15th overall pick by the Washington Wizards. Now, the Forward will ply his trade for the Purple and Gold.
In a get-to-know-me video for the Lakers, the 23-year-old recalled his initial reaction to playing against the 37-year-old superstar, and how impressed he was with his physique.
“My favorite player growing up was LeBron. The first thing I remember about playing against LeBron was just like standing next to him and seeing how physically bigger he wasn’t than me. Size-wise, he’s like 6’8” — and I thought I was tall, I thought I was strong. And it was one of those things like nah, this dude has been doing this his whole life. He’s really built like that for sure.”
Troy Brown Jr. Wasn’t The Only Player Who Was Left Impressed By LeBron James
It wasn’t just Brown who was left spellbound by James’ work ethic and the supreme athleticism that’s made him one of the modern-day greats. Scottie Pippen Jr. also shared how the star’s approach to fitness motivated him to push harder in the gym.
Speaking on Spectrum SportsNet’s “Lakeshow” podcast, the rookie who signed a two-way contract with Los Angeles remarked on how James was an inspiration.
“I think it’s Year 19 or something like that, so just seeing him in the morning, grinding and working, it says a lot about him. It says a lot about why he’s great at what he does and it motivates me to go out there and work harder too.”
James will be playing his 20th season in the league and will hope to stay at his fittest best as he guns for his fifth title, while the Lakers will look for their 18th. The new-look side will take on the Golden State Warriors in an away fixture on opening night on October 18.
More must-reads: