LeBron James Reveals Training Schedule, Diet During Lakers' Season and Offseason

LeBron James became the most productive 40-year-old in NBA history, at least in part thanks to his strict offseason and diet schedule, which he followed both during the summer and the season.

The Los Angeles Lakers star detailed his training schedule and diet to Steve Nash starting at the 20-minute mark of Tuesday's second episode of Mind the Game: Season 2.

"I'm trying to maximize, how could I be in optimal shape and game-ready for the next day. I'm always thinking about the next day," James said when explaining his routine.

James' preparation starts over the summer. The Lakers star said that when he's "super locked in" he tries to spend five days a week in the gym, with Saturday as a recovery day and Sunday as a prep day.

James told Nash that Monday is "the most strenuous day," while Tuesday is "a lot of running, but a lot of just catch-and-shooting, getting your legs back under you."

Both he and Nash agreed that the general goal of NBA workouts has changed from strength training to targeting improved mobility during workouts.

"I usually lift three days out of the week, where I'm in the weight room lifting, and then the other two days, I'm just doing the ball work, band work, mobility stuff," James said.

The intensity of James' workouts levels up after the first week of August, when James said he starts prepping for the NBA preseason.

"There's no way to get in game shape in the offseason," James said. "But what you can do is get in the best, optimal shape leading up to that."

That process starts with weekly increases in the intensity of workouts. James said his "gauge" to tell how in shape he is depends on how often he has to break for water during his workouts.

"If I'm doing a 45-minute court workout, and every five to seven minutes through that 45 minutes I'm getting a drink of water, I'm like, 'OK. I've got to get better'... and then it gets to the point where I've only needed one break in 45 minutes," James said. "That's when I know, 'OK, I'm at a really good pace.'"

Even after months of preparing, James told Nash that the adjustment to game play during the preseason is so intense he "can't feel anything" below his lower back after games.

"You're like, 'I hate getting out of shape,'" James said. "It's like: 'Oh. But I wonder how other people feel that haven't done anything.' So you've just gotta stay tapped in."

James added that he has a similarly rigorous practice schedule during the season.

For an 11 a.m. practice, James said he gets to the Lakers' facility around 8:30 a.m. to lift for 45 minutes before the session.

James said he will hydrate before practice and sometimes eat a fruit smoothie or overnight oats after, but will wait for lunch until around 1:30 or 2 p.m.

After practice, James said he often gets a massage and uses a cold tub and leg compression unit, followed sometimes by a nap and a foot bath at home.

James also detailed his routine for game days. Before the Lakers' road game in Oklahoma City on Wednesday night, for example, James said he plans to lift and shoot around about three to five hours before the 8 p.m. ET tip-off.

The Lakers play again on Thursday night in Dallas, before which James said his pregame routine will be focused on recovery work and shooting.

"I have schedules dependent on how the games are flowing throughout the season," James said.

There's no question these routines are playing off. James, the oldest player in the NBA this season, is averaging 24.5 points, 8.4 assists and 7.9 rebounds while playing more than 35 minutes per game 67 appearances for the Lakers.