Lakers' LeBron James Says 'I Think I Was Born with a Sports IQ... Maybe I Was Chosen'

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was once hailed as "The Chosen One" in high school, and he wondered whether that's an apt description to explain his almost preternatural vision on the court.

In the debut episode of his joint podcast, Mind the Game, with former NBA sharpshooter JJ Redick, James recounted how he has understood the nuances of basketball from a young age. He said at the 19:31 mark he "could flip a play when I was eight years old."

"My coaches would just be blown away," he said. "I wouldn't know where it came from, I have no idea. ... I think I was born with a sports IQ, and it could've been any sport. But I just think basketball was the one I chose and maybe I was chosen to do that as well."

If being a high-level professional athlete only required hard work, then a lot more people would've achieved their dreams by now. It's often a mixture of tireless work along with physical and mental gifts that can't be taught or earned.

In James' case, he possesses an almost unparalleled ability to read the game. The 20-time All-Star has previously said he discovered at a young age he had a photographic memory that helped him to make plays on the floor.

There's no question James' raw physical tools have served him well. Even at 39, the 6'9", 250-pound forward is still tough to stop when he builds a full head of steam.

But plenty of players have been as big as James, as strong as James, and/or as fast as James. The reason there's only one LeBron is that nobody has combined all of that with being a basketball savant.

At times, it really does feel as though he was "chosen" by a higher power to do this.