LeBron James, the basketball legend, has been a target of trash talk during last season’s playoffs and throughout the offseason and preseason. From Nuggets coach Michael Malone to former Memphis wing Dillon Brooks, various individuals have taken shots at LeBron. When asked how he plans to respond to this chirpiness, LeBron shared his thoughts at Lakers practice on Saturday.

 

“There will be a time,” James said with a sly smile. “When that time is? I don’t know. I don’t know if it’s now or — there will be a time. There will be a time when everybody will get it, for sure.”

Despite the trash talk, LeBron expressed that he doesn’t need external motivation when facing opponents. He has a strong inner drive to compete and win.

 

“I don’t get motivated against [who] the opponents [are] pretty much anymore,” James explained. “I don’t need it. I don’t want to say I don’t get motivated to play, because I do get motivated to go against the competition, I love competing against the best. But I don’t need an individual or a team to motivate me. I’m self-motivated. I’m enough.”

 

LeBron’s primary motivation remains the pursuit of another NBA championship.

“[I am] still seeing that Larry O’Brien Trophy in my mind on a daily basis,” he said.

LeBron James has confidence in his team’s potential and prefers to focus on the present rather than looking too far ahead to the championship.

 

“We could be a really, really good team,” James said. “I don’t even look to June. It’s too precious — the game is too precious — and I don’t play with the basketball gods like that. I don’t take it for granted.”

The new season tips off with the Lakers facing the Nuggets on Tuesday, October 24, at 7:30 PM ET.