Metta World Peace reminisces being floored over 15-year-old LeBron James showing out in presence of Michael Jordan in pickup game
Looking back to how LeBron James was when he was still an NBA rookie, and now, with 21 seasons under his belt, the allure of watching him perform remains the same. However, what about when he was still a young prospect? Former Lakers forward Metta World Peace fondly remembered a 15-year-old James putting on a show in the presence of Michael Jordan during a pickup game.
Back then, James was still working his way to make it to the big leagues, but he was already considered a highly anticipated NBA prospect. Interestingly, the pickup game took place in Chicago, which was filled with elite stars at the time, from Jerry Stackhouse to Jamal Crawford. To play with professionals is one thing, but impressing them is a whole different feeling for some in LeBron James' shoes.
Metta World Peace shared the moment during a podcast interview on Paul George's "Podcast P." Given the immense excitement surrounding James at the time, the 2010 NBA Champion still wanted to see what he was all about and he ended up feeling "inspired" by what he witnessed.
"(8:40) He was cooking" Peace said. "He was 15 or 16 posting, getting to the basket and I'm like this is going to be a huge issue, you know, and for sure it was. When I saw that, it motivated me, I'm like, 'I got to go to work.' He coming into the league cooking, I was not like that when I was 15. ... He could have went pro right then honestly."
Aside from playing with excellent NBA athletes at the time, LeBron James was also in the presence of six-time champion Michael Jordan. During that gym run, the Chicago Bulls legend was already retired but still had some juice left in the tank against the young stars back then.
Metta World Peace highlighted that he already saw the tremendous upside to James' game from what he saw and envisioned that he would only get better.
LeBron James once talked about meeting Michael Jordan for the first time
During an episode of Uninterrupted's "After Party" podcast in 2020, LeBron James shared what it felt like the first time he met Michael Jordan in person.
"When I met Michael Jordan for the first time, I literally couldn't believe it was him," James said. "The dude looked like Jesus Christ to me. He was Black Jesus to me. ... You don't understand. I didn't think Michael Jordan was real. I only thought he lived in TV. When I saw him, I was like, if the man above would have taken me that day, I would've lived a hell of a life."
Meeting one of your idols is a moment that some often dream about; such was the case for James, who considered Michael Jordan as an individual who was not from this planet. It occurred in 2006 when he was in Chicago with sports-marketing businessman Maverick Carter.