As basketball icon LeBron James, 39, enters his 22nd NBA season, people are curious how the athlete is staying in shape with age.

In a new Netflix docuseries entitled Starting 5, which explores the lives of the NBA’s five most dominant figures through the 2023-24 season, reporters comment that James’ athleticism has only seemed to improve over the years.

Speaking in the docuseries, James reflected, “I’m surprised at myself at this point…I’m not tired…my dedication to my work I think is a huge part of the reason why I am still able to play at this level.”

Also in the series, James addressed the 2016 rumor that he spent $1.5 million on his body every year, although he did not confirm or deny any numbers.

“I’ve heard this crazy notion about how much money I spend on my body each year. I kind of just chuckle. That is a number that I will not disclose, but, more importantly, I think it’s just the time.”

James credits his maintained physical health to his strict biohacking routine. James wakes up on games days at 6:30 a.m. and goes for a cold plunge for ten to 15 minutes, followed by a warm-up on the court and a nap between noon and 2:00 p.m. His rest is followed by a series of stretches and physical activations to prepare for the 7:00 p.m. starting time. Even in the off-season, James must adhere to a strict workout schedule and diet.

Although James swears by a variety of practices to maintain athleticism, such as cold plunges, constant dedicated practice and red light therapy, he has continually promoted sleep as the most important health tip.

“It’s the best recovery you can have…it’s basically equivalent to you putting your phone in a charger before you go to bed,” James said, “If you try to get the most sleep that you can get, that’s the only way that you’re going to get back to 100%.”

This summer, James was honored as the flag bearer for the U.S. Olympic team in Paris.

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Article by Baila Eve Zisman

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