“To kill a kid’s dream before it started? That’s wack to me” – LeBron James on playing Klay Thompson when he was a junior in college originally appeared on Basketball Network.
The summer of 2010 marked a defining chapter in LeBron James‘ life and career. As soon as he became an unrestricted free agent on July 1, he embarked on a whirlwind of meetings with teams eager to secure the NBA superstar. Each organization went to great lengths to win him over, showcasing their best in hopes of landing the coveted megastar.
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However, as fun as it may seem to be wined and dined and told how amazing you are, it was also a highly stressful and overwhelming experience for James. He had to make the most significant decision of his career while feeling the weight of expectations from fans, the media and even his fellow players.
Burdened by immense pressure, King James sought solace in the one unwavering constant in his life: basketball. With the Nike basketball camp being held at the University of Akron, he sought to let off some steam by playing against some of the best collegiate players in the country at the time.
It was at that time that he crossed paths with a deadeye shooter from Washington State named Klay Thompson.
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Pros vs. pros-to-be
The Nike camp was an annual event that gathered the nation’s best high school players. It also attracted NBA stars who served as camp counselors.
During the second day of camp, James showed up on the court with Chris Paul. Both wore basketball gear, signaling they were about to join the campers for a scrimmage.
On one side, James teamed up with Paul and a few of his Cleveland Cavaliers teammates to take on an all-college squad composed of future pros Chris Wright, Shelvin Mack, Kyle Singler, Vernon Macklin and Thompson.
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The competition was intense, with both sides refusing to back down. Yet, James consistently embraced his role as a mentor to the younger players. He took the time to offer guidance and encouragement, demonstrating his commitment to giving back and shaping the next generation of basketball stars.
“You never know who you’re going to cross paths with. That’s why, for me personally, I’ve always been kind to the younger generation and the kids in high school, the kids in college, the kids growing up,” the superstar forward said.
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Fuel their dreams, not kill it
Before making it big in the NBA, James had the pleasure of receiving advice from several legendary basketball players, one of whom was three-time MVP Moses Malone, who told him never to cheat the grind. With that in mind, he always made it a point to be a positive influence on young aspiring athletes, knowing that a few words of encouragement could make all the difference in someone’s journey to greatness.
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“I would never want a story to come out about me and them say, ‘Man, when I was in the 10th grade, man, I went up to LeBron and he told me you ain’t never going to make it and now…'” LeBron shared. “You know? That’s wack for me. To kill a kid’s dream before it started? That’s wack to me.”
Thompson eventually joined James in the NBA when the Golden State Warriors selected him with the 11th pick of the 2011 NBA Draft. He would soon form one-half of the famed “Splash Brothers” with Stephen Curry, helping lead the Dubs to four NBA titles — three of which came at James’ expense.
This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 20, 2025, where it first appeared.