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“He сould’ve went рro then!” 15-yeаr-old LeBron Jаmes рut Mіchael Jordаn аnd reѕt of NBA on аlert

Posted on May 19, 2024 - 5:57 am by

Former player Metta Sandiford-Artest revealed 15-year-old LeBron James put Michael Jordan and the rest of the NBA on notice

LeBron James was a phenom coming out of high school. A player who transitioned to the NBA and was immediately a superstar. He could only gain entry to the NBA through the 2003 Draft as the league would not allow anyone younger or with less experience.

However, former player Metta Sandiford-Artest recalls James putting Michael Jordan and the rest of the league on notice, when he was 15 years old. The former champion was a guest on Podcast P with Paul George recently and was asked about his first experience meeting LeBron James.

Everybody knew who he was. He was already famous. I'm like 'Alright cool, I wanna see what he got'. He was cooking. Like he was 15 or 16, posting, getting to the basket. And I'm like, 'this is gonna be a huge issue'. And for sure it was. 3 more years he right there. When I saw that, it motivated me. I'm like 'I gotta go to work'. He coming in the league cooking. I was not like that at 15. I was 20.

Metta Sandiford-Artest recalled

Metta Sandiford-Artest knew right then that the young 15-year-old would become a problem in the NBA. Later his prophecy came true. The situation World Peace, formerly known as Ron Artest and Metta World Peace, was referring to, was a casual pick-up game. A scrimmage in which the great Michael Jordan was also playing. Jordan knew at that moment what Sandiford-Artest was referring to.



At that young age, James was posting up and driving to the rim against grown men. Reinforcing the notion that he would be a problem in the NBA. Also forcing, a new to the league Sandiford-Artest, to get better.

LeBron James was NBA-ready at 15-years-old

While continuing his conversation about LeBron James, Metta Sandiford-Artest revealed how he viewed the then 15-year-old in terms of a player.

He could run pro right then honestly.

Metta Sandiford-Artest said

To this, a shocked Paul George asked, “Really?”