"He taught me how to take the game seriously": $1.2 bn-worth LeBron James heaps praise on high school HC Keith Dambrot in touching tribute

LeBron James and JJ Redick welcomed the first guest on their podcast, Mind the Game on Saturday. Redick asked LeBron to introduce the guest, coach Keith Dambrot, under whom James played in high school.

The $1.2 billion worth (per Forbes) LeBron praised coach Dambrot and credited him for his success in basketball

"Coach Keith Dambrot, my high school coach, really taught me a lot about how to prep for the game, [and] how to play the game," LeBron James said.

"I wouldn't be here in this seat right now where I am, my career, without him. He going to say the same thing about vice versa no, but he literally like taught me how to take the game seriously."

"Our games were so easy because we practiced so hard. He was like, 'This is going to be the hardest thing y'all do on this practice court. When we get into games, it's going to be easy. And as a player, you don't really believe that when you're 14, 15 years old. You're like, 'I'm dying out here, man. What are you talking about, the games going to be easier?'"

Coach Keith Dambrot calls LeBron James a freak, praises his longevity

Despite coaching him, even Keith Dambrot is shocked by LeBron James' consistent performances even at the age of 39.

In his rookie season at Cleveland, LeBron averaged 20.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists. Now, in his 21st season in the NBA, James averaged 25.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and 8.3 assists and is showing no signs of slowing down.

Dambrot spoke on LeBron James' longevity in an interview with SiriusXM NBA Radio.

"He's a freak. I mean, he's a mental freak, he's a physical freak. I still think he can play as long as he wants to play. ... He can play for another eight years at the way he is going," coach Keith said.

"I always tell our guys, 'You can’t play as long and as hard and as good as LeBron has unless you just love it.'"

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After 40 years of coaching, including 22 at the Division I level, coach Dambrot has retired from coaching.

He spent seven seasons at Duquesne when he also led the team to its first NCAA tournament appearance since 1977 this year. Their run was cut in the second round following an 89-63 loss to Illinois.

Throughout their March Madness run, James tweeted his support for the Dukes and even gifted the team his signature Nike LeBron 21s.

What did you think of coach Keith's comments on LeBron James' two-decade-long career? Let's know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Also Read: "Best sophomore in the country, my a**": LeBron James reveals what his HS coach Keith Dambrot told him to “set the tone”