13:38 vitale says "please surround yourself with people that care" 18 yrs later no arrests no bad publicity his close circle are all bosses and millionaires. bron is really that dude
yup lebron such a class act - thank you for influencing young children around the globe to spend countless hours of their time playing/watching this game instead of focusing on things that will ensure them financial stability/safety such as studying. Total moron
@MouthBreathe just like how Lebron influence you to watch this game instead of focusing on things that will ensure your financial stability you total moron
Amazing that 21 years later, I get to see LeBron still playing today. Had a triple double this afternoon with 28, 11, and 17 assists at age 39. He keeps living up to those Magic comparisons. Respect to the king 👑
Y’all are retarded. He stalls the offense so bad that the person he passes to is forced to shoot up the ball. It’s not like he’s creating open shots for his players like Magic did, or Stockton, or the great passers of the game! This guy is a fraud. If you watch basketball, you’ll know. But you’re a regular fan who doesn’t pay attention.
@@isabelomarcos1391 if LeBron went to Ohio state we would’ve seen a 2019 zion type year but even better. And you best believe that Ohio state would’ve won the ncaa championship too.
@@MicuBamba I don't think Jordan was, but Magic definitely was! He was a monster coming out of highschool, but back then nobody was thinking about coming straight out of high school, because every basketball star wanted to go college and make a name for themselves at a bigtime program like Kentucky, North Carolina, UCLA, Louisville, Kansas and Indiana. Duke wasn't a powerhouse in the 1970's, but they were on the right track once Coach K arrived in 1980!
It's funny, though, I watched this game when it happened. At the time, the media desperately wanted to find a new Michael Jordan. Nothing was certain. He has lived up to the hype and then some.
Having Good Ones lol your Lakers team is down 1-2 to both of those teams this season. With those numbers you posted, Giannis definitely has better numbers.
I'm watching this immediately after he just broke Kareem's record. Absolute legendary moment in history as he will continue to blow minds across the world.
🤔 The fact that LeBron James was the most hyped High School athlete in the history of the world is one thing,. the fact that he ACTUALLY EXCEEDED those expectations is a whole another thing all together! 😳🤯🤯
@@jeromefabol4348 Yeah you are probably right.👍 And the fact that he actually exceeded expectations through all the hate and hype just shows you how truly great he is!
@@makadur7438 I mean there's never been an athlete that I can think of in the world that had as much hype as LeBron James. I mean we hear about a lot of these Stars overseas, but they never have the hype that LeBron got.
Well he is a legend now.. Highest scorer of all times.. 4 times mvp.. playing at the age of 35 still no one can stop him.. That kid has gone places my dear..
Know a hs coach who played his school(I’m in Ohio so not that uncommon) man said he gained atleast 80 pounds from one season to the next that is steroids. Early hairline recession steroids. Little to no injuries and when he does get injured he recovers fast plays through injuries everything points to steroids
@@wethemboys133 nope, just a freak of nature + his discipline and work ethic, another example is Giannis and also Zion. can you ask the HS coach if they use steroids too?
@@wethemboys133 That coach is an idiot! Lol I played on the AAU circuit at the same time and nothing about his weight gain pointed to steroids. His frame was always built to hold more weight. He finished high school at 6’8” 230lb. Some people are bigger, stronger, and faster than you and you just have to deal with it. Lol Even if he was still thinner like he was as a freshman or sophomore he was still considered the best player in the country by most who saw him play with or without the weight gain. You and that “coach” sound like losers. Lol
@@maruramos5878 Some people don’t know any other way to explain how average they are so they have to put something on him just to come to grips with it. It’s pathetic. Lol Lebron went from 5’10” to 6’6” in a year. They probably say he used HGH to do that. Lol
@@wethemboys133 Gaining weight is very easy, and he doesn’t get injured because he focuses on his health unlike a lot of athletes, he spends millions of dollars on his health every year, and that hairline stuff is just foolishness 😂😂
EyeLoveTheStars IF your auntie had nuts she'd be your uncle. I can easily say if kyrie and kevin love didn't get hurt the Cavs would have won the first chip.
by the end of the video they mentioned he's not selfish... indeed he's 7th all time assist leader along with being 1st all time score leader above legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
@@darthfear7280 He's currently 20 points away from passing up Malone in the #2 all time points spot. If he sits out his next game (against the Wiz) he will be able to surpass Malone against the Cavs in Cleveland. This dude is living a fuckin movie. Also if he averages about 20ppg next year he will pass Kareem at some point next season to take the #1 spot.
Not to mention his social activism that has had a major impact. Look at the charge he led the past weekend to further raise consciousness on the detention of Britney Griner.
Been dominating for 20 years, lived up to all the hype. Fan of him or not, LeBron is just a once in a generation type of athlete. Appreciate him while he's still playing.
I’m not even close to Lebron at all, but I actually get that feeling in high school ball. Dunking was awesome when I first started doing it, but the couple of no look over the head assists I can get feel so magical I always want to do it cuz it’s sooo much fun to hit a clean pass
watching this after year 20. this man was destined for greatness. there truly never was a highschooler that played like him. he looks easily NBA ready in this video. Nobody was lying, they knew how great he was going to be.
He wasn't the Greatest highschool player of all time. LeBron was great in highschool but there's been a lot of great highschool basketball players that never got the hype lebron had. But there's more impressive highschool basketball players than lebron James
@@SpaceSpiffin43 there’s definitely better high school players, but most flopped when they got to the league.. most flopped when they got to fucking college. nobody has been this consistent, you can argue that there were better prospects. but none of them compare to the king
@@SpaceSpiffin43ok, so who are the high school basketball players that were better than LeBron, since there are so many? You can't just make a statement like that, and not give a single example. And don't you dare say Lenny cooke😂
@SpaceSpiffin43 I'm 39 and I've studied basketball history much of my life. I'd say LeBron James is the best all around player in high school. There have been other greats in high school but LeBron had it all. Passing, scoring, court vision, head at the rim vertical, height, etc. He's the best high school prospect
Correct me if I am wrong, that draft came right after the championship season right? If the Pistons would have drafted Melo instead, probably could have gone back to back.
As an Akron native and cavs fan. This entire video brings a tear to my eye. Two decades later and Bron is playing for the all time scoring record. Insane.
Imagine, LeBron was so good he took a team made up of his close friends and beat the number 1 team in the country. This isn't a team of 5 phenoms, it's literally his buddies.
Crazy seein this after watching him drop 40 points in a western conference finals at the age of 38. Still the best amongst his peers. Broke the all time NBA scoring record earlier this year 🐐
@@jokerofmorocco brother he literally tells his teammates what the other team will do and it happens. Most of the time they counter it. What u on about
@jokerofmorocco This is straight up not true. When he played with Wade and Kyrie they werent used as spot up shooters. Bosh and Davis weren't spotting up with him either. The only one would be Love and he was always a high volume shooter since Minnesota. He draws a lot of the defense into the paint which gave him wide open shots on the perimeter. It would be stupid not to take advantage
Antonio Davis you should see Jordan he went in the nba played and exhibition match with the rookies vs team USA Jordan so team USA would get rhythm but the problem was Jordan was in that team and the rookies shockingly beat them their levels Oh lebron would of done great to he would of got his stats And a participation trophy next To THE L he always take right next to it!!
Crazy how the #1 ranked high school team he's playing agains is called the Warriors too and they're from Oak hill and the Dubs are from Oakland. And he's carrying this team too. It's like it was a foreshadowing of the future.
GTR BOY his best team mate was mo Williams what is not hard to understand about that. Half the players he played with were out the league when he left.
@ken l he got cut from varsity as a sophomore so he played JV and had a ton of 40 point games then he had a growth spurt from 5’8-6’3 sophomore to junior year then 6’3-6’6 his junior to senior year
His mother had him at 16 years old. Her mother and grandmother died before she was 19 years old. That's just him and his young mother own their own, trying to survive. Now look at how he's handled himself and what he's become. Took care of his mother and help make his close H.S. friends millionaires, by setting them up in their endeavors. That's a GOAT story in life...SALUTE MY BROTHER!
@L A I’m not hating I’m a fan as well I’m saying they have two different play styles LeBron has the body of a PF with the mentality of PG he’s more Magic than Jordan, Kobe is more Jordan than LeBron, either way I say LeBron is the 🐐 but some have other opinions
This is chilling. Twenty solid minutes of goosebumps. They had absolutely no idea how right they were, how much 38-year-old LBJ is exactly the same as he was at 17, and how far he'd really go.
Imagine being 17, playing on national television, in an NBA level stadium, being compared to the best players of all time, and being told you could’ve been in the NBA since you were a sophomore...
@@skhetan1 yeah with all that pressure since he was in high school and expected to be the next one to be the face of the NBA and yeah exceed those already high expectations, I’ve never seen anything like it. And will most likely be more successful off the court than on it. Far from done.
yea because it was all planned but kids like you think its all real. thats called the script, the storyline. lebron James is a illumanti boy toy and always will be. nba uses magnets and tracking technology in the ceilings. fake stars and fake stories got your perceptions manipulated
Watching this 20 years later in 2022 gives me chills. The commentators were great here; acknowledging the potential threats he could face as a young super star was especially insightful. 20 years later, he has stayed far away from all these troubles, and consistently stayed a great athlete. Consistently stayed a champion. Also, this video proves that a supportive family member helps you go a long, long way. Watching his mom cheering and jumping up and down just made my eyes watery. Incredible footage. What a role model. I hope all the best for LeBron James and his family.
Now this Kid From Akron is the All- time leading scorer in the NBA! Crazy how this kid lived up to every expectation placed on him since 16 years old! THE CHOSEN ONE! 🔥
Someone asked me back then..."You think this LeBron James kid is going to live up to the hype?" And I was like..."No one could live up to this level of hype." I was wrong.
The first I heard of him was when Magic said LBJ was better than him in High school. I knew he had to be something really special for Magic to say that. My opinion is 1. LBJ 2. Wilt. 3. MJ. people will argue about anything so it doesn't matter to me, who says MJ is one, and there certainly is a case for it. I've seen all 3 play, and LBJ is the Greatest all around player ever, and for longevity without doubt.
It's crazy at 18 years old, even with all the stardom, before all the money Lebron is able to conduct himself the same way he is now during that post game interview.
That's because he had professional PR people coaching him since age 16.. At 16, he was already one of the top College recruits in the Country. He was already taking huge sums of money from boosters and had agents and PR people all over him.. They got on this kid at a super young age, so it made him mature and know how to handle the media and stardom really young. Its rare to have someone as highly touted as Lebron at his age.. Mikey Williams may be a similar example today, but Mikey Williams def isnt as good as Lebron was. At least not yet.
The GOAT. This guy is omnipotent for f sake he is EVERYWHERE in the court. Never in my lifetime that I have imagined that there's someone who will surpass my goat Kareem and now here he is number 1 in scoring 4th in assist. Unbelievable truly a one in a kind. Thank you Kareem, Tim Duncan and LeBron for making the right plays and non flashy game bullS**ts unlike other stars - From a 65 year old fan I'm sorry for doubting you when I was younger, I guess it was just nostalgia and refusing to accept that there are people who's better than the guy I idolized.
They were still a good team but in their defense their best player, Carmelo Anthony, had just graduated the year before. So they were in a bit of a reload year, lol.
Sadly that’s what prevented him from actually being what a lot falsely claim he is : the greatest ever. He had too much gentle giant in him to truly reach his potential.
Everything they said about Lebrons future was wrong. He brought his friends from hs and put them in positions to succeed, never had a scandal, all without losing who he was. Lebron James should be considered the greatest athlete of all time because no one had as much pressure or expectations from such a early age and out did those expectations. LeGoat James
If you told this 17 year old Lebron that be was going to be the ALL TIME NBA SCORER passing Kareem Abdul Jabar...he would probably say how did you come from the future lol
I remember being 8 years old watching this guy and being amazed. I'm 27 now and STILL amazed by him every game. What a privilege we have had to watch this guy play this well for this long.
It really blew my mind. I grew up in the 90s and stars then really didn't pass like this. Now it's more common for players to focus on passing but at the time it was game changing.
His longevity and consistency is the greatest we ever saw in the history of basketball from a player. The guy was for 15 years the best player in nba 👑👑👑🐐🐐🐐
People watched this game live probably never expected they were watching the kid who’d soon become the NBA’s all time leading scorer. Amazing story to tell both for lebron & the fans who witnessed greatness at it’s birth🙏🏼
@@derrenkonnor4351 the fact that Kobe was still at his peak during this game i highly doubt that everybody thought he’d be all time leading scorer & not the mamba
Maybe not after this game, but when he scored 25 on the Kings in his debut at 18 years old I knew he had a chance to be the all time leading scorer if he could stay healthy.
20 years later he's a billionaire, a 4 time champion and arguably the greatest player to ever lace them up. AND STILL GOING STRONG. I'd say he lived up to the hype, to say the least.
This guy got a lot of expectations from others when he was still in high school. Most people would crumble and be a below average player. But this guy is the living proof that can live up all the expectation at young age. Salute to bron bron. Dwade fan though
I remember him in high school - it was super clear he was an exceptional player and nba ready , just formalities in terms of when it was time to go to the NBA - was a complete physical package and born for it.
@@breakitdownto zion wasnt even close to lebrons hype yet alone HS status and career. He won 3/4 chips. Lebron already was leading his variety team as a freshman and i.proved and got better and better. Lebron was already a more well rounded player and had a far better shot than zion does. No hate to zion but he wasnt selling out Arenas, plastered on magazines and games on PPV. Not to mention he did all of this without Social media.
@@Mckylan I agree, LBJ is just the greatest, being able to go through that pressure and live up to his hype. 17th season and still going and winning rings, truly unbelievable.
It’s amazing how when we go back to look and listen to old clips like this one and to hear the announcers talking about what did eventually come to fruition, it’s amazing because LEBRON fulfilled these future predictions and more
Imagine struggling in algebra 2 then having to face Lebron
Samuel Guardado wow so original
🤣
Samuel Guardado on ESPN too
imagine struggling in algebra 2
Josh T is this sarcasm or no?
Some dude was sitting in class knowing he had to guard lebron on national television
lolll
😂🤣
That’s hilarious
Guy was probably crying in math class
imagine a long day of trigonometry and than having to guard Lebron right after...
13:38 vitale says "please surround yourself with people that care" 18 yrs later no arrests no bad publicity his close circle are all bosses and millionaires. bron is really that dude
yup lebron such a class act - thank you for influencing young children around the globe to spend countless hours of their time playing/watching this game instead of focusing on things that will ensure them financial stability/safety such as studying. Total moron
MouthBreather you must be a real party pooper
@MouthBreathe just like how Lebron influence you to watch this game instead of focusing on things that will ensure your financial stability you total moron
MouthBreather sir are you ok
Jordan Clark 🤣🤣 facts
Amazing that 21 years later, I get to see LeBron still playing today. Had a triple double this afternoon with 28, 11, and 17 assists at age 39. He keeps living up to those Magic comparisons. Respect to the king 👑
Another season later and he’s still doing it. 40 point triple double the other day against the Hawks. The GOAT.
"I'm not saying he's Magic" - 17 years later he's leading the league in assists playing PG for The Lakers.
😂😂😂💀
Jayden Torres and now no nba
Y’all are retarded. He stalls the offense so bad that the person he passes to is forced to shoot up the ball. It’s not like he’s creating open shots for his players like Magic did, or Stockton, or the great passers of the game! This guy is a fraud. If you watch basketball, you’ll know. But you’re a regular fan who doesn’t pay attention.
@@hunnedproofproductions5529 ahahahahahaha
@@hunnedproofproductions5529 you don't know anything about basketball.
Imagine being 17 and being compared to MJ and Magic.
And 20 years later the conversation is still going on.
Magic & Jordan both have NCAA-college championships, with MJ hitting the winning buzzer beater shot.
@@isabelomarcos1391 if LeBron went to Ohio state we would’ve seen a 2019 zion type year but even better. And you best believe that Ohio state would’ve won the ncaa championship too.
@@isabelomarcos1391 So they both still weren't ready for the NBA, at the age of LeBron.
@@MicuBamba I don't think Jordan was, but Magic definitely was! He was a monster coming out of highschool, but back then nobody was thinking about coming straight out of high school, because every basketball star wanted to go college and make a name for themselves at a bigtime program like Kentucky, North Carolina, UCLA, Louisville, Kansas and Indiana. Duke wasn't a powerhouse in the 1970's, but they were on the right track once Coach K arrived in 1980!
@@Biggsneeky You made the point: COACHING is what LeBron didn't have... So how could he be so good if he's not so special? 😉
It’s interesting how the commentators literally forecasted his entire career almost perfectly.
fr
Gematria maybe? The same "coincidence" the cartoon used a for RIP Kobe crash?... Follow Jesus... Life is bigger than sports probably.
It's funny, though, I watched this game when it happened. At the time, the media desperately wanted to find a new Michael Jordan. Nothing was certain. He has lived up to the hype and then some.
Lol not gone lie it couldn’t be too hard
Jaden Cowley wwwlalabamalabor
Just realised how good reporters were at their jobs back then. this commentary was absolutely gold
They were amazing back then....
Dickike V and Bilas are just the goats simply
They had to be..radiosss
Dan Shulman is still going strong today, he does Toronto Blue Jays games now. Broadcasting legend!
💯
That Lebron kid is pretty good.
I think I should become a fan
He should play for the NBA
Isn’t he a basketball player?
Yeah he is. He is in the nba!
nah i don't see it. darko is way better, bet he wins a championship by 2004
“If he’s half as good as all I’ve heard about him, he’s gonna he one special athlete”. Turns out he’s twice as good as everyone thought lol
@Having Good Ones Fair point and very much agreed!
Having Good Ones disagree
Having Good Ones lol your Lakers team is down 1-2 to both of those teams this season. With those numbers you posted, Giannis definitely has better numbers.
@@LloydChristmas08 They're 1-1 with the Bucks
@Having Good Ones Giannis is only playing 30mpg though
A random guy called Skip Bayless was watching this game and was like “… wow, I can build a whole career around this kid”
This comment is so fucking underrated!!! Best comment ever! Hahahaha this was hilarious 😆
😂😂😂
You’re a legend
😂😂😂😂
Up
I'm watching this immediately after he just broke Kareem's record. Absolute legendary moment in history as he will continue to blow minds across the world.
And a complete class act still.
@@dancolvin3268 Indeed
After hearin my song John wall u can b da next Lebron💯
This fool classic 🏆! Bless that nappy hair 💯💥
@@dancolvin3268He’s not quite humble.
🤔 The fact that LeBron James was the most hyped High School athlete in the history of the world is one thing,. the fact that he ACTUALLY EXCEEDED those expectations is a whole another thing all together! 😳🤯🤯
If he is not been hyped he would more appreciated
@@jeromefabol4348 Yeah you are probably right.👍
And the fact that he actually exceeded expectations through all the hate and hype just shows you how truly great he is!
"most hyped High School athlete in the history of the world"
I mean it´s kinda true, but more like "in the US"
@@makadur7438 I mean there's never been an athlete that I can think of in the world that had as much hype as LeBron James. I mean we hear about a lot of these Stars overseas, but they never have the hype that LeBron got.
@@tennaj1367 Now with that i will disagree. That´s only true if you only look at Basketball.
They should do a “where are they now” kind of video with this kid. I’d love to know how he’s doing
Well he is a legend now.. Highest scorer of all times.. 4 times mvp.. playing at the age of 35 still no one can stop him.. That kid has gone places my dear..
@Sam Scholten Ur ppf of S.A.S goes with ur comment
@@quite_random fym highest scorer of all time hes still behind malone and kareem
@@vronz9895 talking about scoring skills defence and records he is way ahead
😂😂😂
dang, he surpassed and exceeded all their expectations.
Know a hs coach who played his school(I’m in Ohio so not that uncommon) man said he gained atleast 80 pounds from one season to the next that is steroids. Early hairline recession steroids. Little to no injuries and when he does get injured he recovers fast plays through injuries everything points to steroids
@@wethemboys133 nope, just a freak of nature + his discipline and work ethic, another example is Giannis and also Zion. can you ask the HS coach if they use steroids too?
@@wethemboys133 That coach is an idiot! Lol I played on the AAU circuit at the same time and nothing about his weight gain pointed to steroids. His frame was always built to hold more weight. He finished high school at 6’8” 230lb. Some people are bigger, stronger, and faster than you and you just have to deal with it. Lol Even if he was still thinner like he was as a freshman or sophomore he was still considered the best player in the country by most who saw him play with or without the weight gain. You and that “coach” sound like losers. Lol
@@maruramos5878 Some people don’t know any other way to explain how average they are so they have to put something on him just to come to grips with it. It’s pathetic. Lol Lebron went from 5’10” to 6’6” in a year. They probably say he used HGH to do that. Lol
@@wethemboys133 Gaining weight is very easy, and he doesn’t get injured because he focuses on his health unlike a lot of athletes, he spends millions of dollars on his health every year, and that hairline stuff is just foolishness 😂😂
I’m watching this after he had played on a injured foot in the playoffs and still dropped 40. WHAT A LEGEND
Yessir
After he got swept?
@@wallstreetzoomerhe didn’t get swept the lakers did
Bron been going against the warriors since a youngin
Upsetting the Warriors since 2002
And losing to the warriors for 3 Finals series lol
@@dositless9554 Upsetting? Warriors beat him 3 out of 4 times. Wouldve been 0-4 if not for Draymond suspension.
EyeLoveTheStars IF your auntie had nuts she'd be your uncle. I can easily say if kyrie and kevin love didn't get hurt the Cavs would have won the first chip.
@@EyeLoveTheStars that one ring in 2016 is worth more than the 3 the Warriors won combined. And most nba fans feel this way
“There’s not many guys in the NBA that make there teammates more efficient, I think he has that potential”.....
That aged so well.
We're gonna see that in his "Last Dance" documentary
Everything in this video aged well........except the "get rid of the leeches" there are no leeches everyone has earned their keep on his team
And been saying that since highschool
@@arsenworld123 He was talking about people who might try using LeBron for money.
@@arsenworld123 lol what? there are always leeches in successful people's lives no matter what
20 years later he did all that
Stayed healthy
Kept good people around him
Kept his work ethic
by the end of the video they mentioned he's not selfish... indeed he's 7th all time assist leader along with being 1st all time score leader above legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
@@darthfear7280 He's currently 20 points away from passing up Malone in the #2 all time points spot. If he sits out his next game (against the Wiz) he will be able to surpass Malone against the Cavs in Cleveland. This dude is living a fuckin movie. Also if he averages about 20ppg next year he will pass Kareem at some point next season to take the #1 spot.
Billionaire most hated LeBron James mvp
Not to mention his social activism that has had a major impact. Look at the charge he led the past weekend to further raise consciousness on the detention of Britney Griner.
@@ccsm3556 Lebron makes millions of dollars from slave labor in the third world.
Been dominating for 20 years, lived up to all the hype. Fan of him or not, LeBron is just a once in a generation type of athlete. Appreciate him while he's still playing.
Lebron was so dominant in high school dawg it's not even fair
def top 10 highschool player.
@Toxic Gaming nah 💀
@Clippers Suck yes definitely in high school but the pros is a debate for another day
roberto5red5rocky lol huh he’s he best nobody on his level
lol imagine being a 5’5 average high school sophomore and having to just guard LeBron
LeBron: “Coach, take me out for a few minutes. I need a breather.”
Coach: “Breathe at the half... then again at the end of the game.”
😂😂😂😂 This sounds like a supremedreams1 skit
Sounds like something RDC would say😂😂
Wait I didn't see the whole vid does this really happen
😂😂😂
It's 8 minute quarters, bro.
They managed to talk about ONE player the ENTIRE game😂 greatness!!
Lol
And ESPN haven't stopped talking about him since
They only covered the game becaue of him so that was expected.
Lpl typical broke hater mvp LeBron James
They didn't show the entire game though.
Even his interview skills at that age was praised. Bro is meant to be a superstar.
For real he handled that post-game interview like a ten year NBA vet lol
He's been playing against Warriors since high school
lol
@Marky Darky It’s a joke🤨
@Marky Darky oak hill are literally called the warriors are u slow
@Marky Darky its their mascot hello
google oak hill warriors smart one
So LeBron been carrying teams since high school
There's only 1 Lebron!!!
As you said, you said it right
You know.
Um yes this squad is average at best without him
Heard
Opened his TV debut with his signature tomahawk dunk
This is the Corona content we deserve 🏀
Bruiser King blessing in disguise 🤔
**Corontent
Except I pay for espn+. You telling me they had this content all along
Is he the CORONA MVP?
i agree hahahaha
Man I really hope this dude ain’t a bust
Eh i don’t ever see him making it big
@@FXL-mx8iz just for that I hope he proves you wrong fr 😤
He will never have 4 rings
To much hype around him he’s a bust
@@Raj-wf6ln yeah and he will never get 4 mvps either, the hype will be too much
Lebron throws down a monster dunk and walk off like nothing happened but gets a no look assist and celebrates like he just dunked it....
🐐
That was a bit tell for me too. He really gets more excited about a good assist and string up his teammates than himself
hes the real goat hes hyped up for hes team mate not himself
I’m not even close to Lebron at all, but I actually get that feeling in high school ball. Dunking was awesome when I first started doing it, but the couple of no look over the head assists I can get feel so magical I always want to do it cuz it’s sooo much fun to hit a clean pass
@@davidolinger3948 Well there aren't even ten people in the world that are close to LeBron so it makes sense.
This kid just became the all time leading goal scorer in the nba you far surpassed the hype you are the greatest ever
this lebron guy plays pretty good for an 18-year-old high schooler. hope he goes to the nba one day
FYI, this video is from 2002.
@@brentad2004 it's a joke
Brent Dozier smh
So is mine
@@brentad2004 as was mine
As a high schooler he did a better interview than most nba players.
he just built different man
better than even Kawhi?
@@vanguardas9927 yes.
If memory serves, he actually spoke to a group of inner city teens when he was a teen (likely a senior) in NJ. He developed the ability early.
@@brian6441 wat it do baybeee
Today this man is 37 years old and scored 56 points versus the GSW last night. LeBron James is a living legend
W
and then he got pounded by the rockets 2 games after that
he truly surpassed expectations. I doubt they thought he would be this good 20 years later
He got 50 today too
And he got 31 a couple hours ago...but his team lost by 29
watching this after year 20. this man was destined for greatness. there truly never was a highschooler that played like him. he looks easily NBA ready in this video. Nobody was lying, they knew how great he was going to be.
He wasn't the Greatest highschool player of all time. LeBron was great in highschool but there's been a lot of great highschool basketball players that never got the hype lebron had. But there's more impressive highschool basketball players than lebron James
@@SpaceSpiffin43 there’s definitely better high school players, but most flopped when they got to the league.. most flopped when they got to fucking college. nobody has been this consistent, you can argue that there were better prospects. but none of them compare to the king
@@SpaceSpiffin43ok, so who are the high school basketball players that were better than LeBron, since there are so many? You can't just make a statement like that, and not give a single example. And don't you dare say Lenny cooke😂
@SpaceSpiffin43 I'm 39 and I've studied basketball history much of my life. I'd say LeBron James is the best all around player in high school. There have been other greats in high school but LeBron had it all. Passing, scoring, court vision, head at the rim vertical, height, etc. He's the best high school prospect
Hearing them talk about Darko being the first pick rlly hurts as a Pistons fan
Talah Ahmad right it sounds ridiculous
Correct me if I am wrong, that draft came right after the championship season right? If the Pistons would have drafted Melo instead, probably could have gone back to back.
@@dejamike88 Melo is overrated. Dwayne Wade was the number 2 you wanted on that Pistons team.
Herv3 forgot about that... wade was definitely better, but both could helped the Pistons with that roster more than Darko.
@Michael Chan ‘03 draft, Pistons won in ‘04...with Darko on the bench. That’s right, Darko has a ring fam.
As an Akron native and cavs fan. This entire video brings a tear to my eye. Two decades later and Bron is playing for the all time scoring record. Insane.
Of course he is….The league is soft now….🙄🙄😏
He's coming back. Look at the team now. We had a nice 4 years and could be headed back to the finals even without him
What a journey for LeBron 👏👏👏
RESPECT
and now he’s 1/1. we’re so blessed to witness his greatness
Imagine, LeBron was so good he took a team made up of his close friends and beat the number 1 team in the country. This isn't a team of 5 phenoms, it's literally his buddies.
I'm pretty sure it's gone that way almost twice: this year and in 2016.
@@MicuBamba you crazy, 2016 he had K. Irving as his buddy and now A. Davis, just the best center in the NBA and TOP ALL NBA 1st team.
@@francomg ...And one of his buddies as well.
@Rod Thompson I didnt mention Jordan once...just appreciating the talent on show here.
Nobody’s going to mention Wade and Lebrun???
Crazy seein this after watching him drop 40 points in a western conference finals at the age of 38. Still the best amongst his peers. Broke the all time NBA scoring record earlier this year 🐐
8:55 “There aren’t many guys in the NBA who make their teamates more efficient. I think he has that potential” WOW. Perfectly predicted
u should tell that to jr hahaha
Lebron don't he just forces his teammates to stand in the corner and hit spot up 3s
@@jokerofmorocco brother he literally tells his teammates what the other team will do and it happens. Most of the time they counter it. What u on about
@jokerofmorocco This is straight up not true. When he played with Wade and Kyrie they werent used as spot up shooters. Bosh and Davis weren't spotting up with him either. The only one would be Love and he was always a high volume shooter since Minnesota. He draws a lot of the defense into the paint which gave him wide open shots on the perimeter. It would be stupid not to take advantage
Wade kyrie and davis are secondary stars. And when ad was missing those 3s he seemed to be the issue
he plays and leads his team the exact same way 17 years later ... king !
Facts reason why he’s my favorite player of all time
Antonio Davis you should see Jordan he went in the nba played and exhibition match with the rookies vs team USA Jordan so team USA would get rhythm but the problem was Jordan was in that team and the rookies shockingly beat them their levels
Oh lebron would of done great to he would of got his stats And a participation trophy next To THE L he always take right next to it!!
3-8..
Acuate 4-6* had to change this comment. Bc he won another lol
Acuate 8 straight finals
Feels like he had better teammates in highschool than he did in 6 years playing for the cavs.
Max rainmaker 😂 big facts
Amen. As soon as LeBron left for Miami. Half the team was out of the NBA.
Max rainmaker his cavs teammates were amazing
CAFGAMING ur drunk
@@greenshotty3364 they were total garbage.
I’m from UK seeing this is mad crazy how many people came to watch him at high school age
It's crazy how he managed to live up to ALL of the hype.
He didn't. He'll never pass jordan.
@@tdb4763 keep hating bozo
@@blackgoku1846 he’s not wrong. 6 rings my guys
@@lazybean8718 Bill Russell has 11
@@tdb4763 Bill Russel is better than Jordan
Crazy how the #1 ranked high school team he's playing agains is called the Warriors too and they're from Oak hill and the Dubs are from Oakland. And he's carrying this team too. It's like it was a foreshadowing of the future.
U must be loose after all that stretching
And oak hill’s from Virginia and steph Curry’s mom is from Virginia 🤯🤯
@@H0lyPh3n0m Steph Curry was born in Akron
ZOD1AC music *steph curry dad from Akron
Lebron’s dad from the dmv
@@parallel2186 Also when they played this game Mars was in retrograde and Steph is a Pices. CRAZY
16:47 “And he’s gonna be playing with better people”
Not for the first 7 seasons
It’s-DG 😂😂😂😂
His teams went 60 plus wins and were ranked top 5 on defense during the kobe vs lebron era. And won mvps over kobe. But now its he never had help?
GTR BOY his best team mate was mo Williams what is not hard to understand about that. Half the players he played with were out the league when he left.
GTR BOY he had one all star teammate in 2005 and one in 2009. Both were never all stars before or since
gumby his high school teammates certainly weren’t all stars by any means, but you don’t shoot free throws on a “wide open layup”.
6:40 he just did a behind the back pass like that 22 years later in the olympics. His longevity is insane.
Lebron upsetting a No. 1 Warriors team was a thing even when he was in highschool
🔥🔥🔥underrated
Now that's a top comment !
Stolen comment
At least him being woke as a joke wasn't a thing back then.
@@steve8803 define "woke" and then explain how it's a bad thing
This is the game that Skip Blayless started to hated leBron
🤣🤣
🤣🤣🤣👍
"Michael Jordan would've had the lead the whole game"
@ken l he got cut from varsity as a sophomore so he played JV and had a ton of 40 point games then he had a growth spurt from 5’8-6’3 sophomore to junior year then 6’3-6’6 his junior to senior year
Why we talking about a ball hog greedy player with the greatest coach Jordan a trash human being
His mother had him at 16 years old. Her mother and grandmother died before she was 19 years old. That's just him and his young mother own their own, trying to survive. Now look at how he's handled himself and what he's become. Took care of his mother and help make his close H.S. friends millionaires, by setting them up in their endeavors. That's a GOAT story in life...SALUTE MY BROTHER!
American dream if there ever was one.
@@Moneyg73 Racist!
AND he's NEVER had major controversy. never cheated on his wife, never said anything that sparked outrage etc. THE GOAT
@@DannyBridie They pay hookers and pornstars to keep quiet🤩
@@DannyBridie All his BLM bullshit?
It's quite something to be drafted 1st out of highschool above every college player.
"The instincts of Magic, and the explosiveness of Michael". The guy who told Vitale that was right on the money.
and the shoot of bird, imagine xD
@@mirak63 let’s not get crazy.
Such shitty sportscasting
LeBron is nothing like MJ, Bron has way more muscle, he is like Magic but he has muscle
@L A I’m not hating I’m a fan as well I’m saying they have two different play styles LeBron has the body of a PF with the mentality of PG he’s more Magic than Jordan, Kobe is more Jordan than LeBron, either way I say LeBron is the 🐐 but some have other opinions
*Lebron's teammate drinks some water*
Announcers: Lebron with the assist
Dickie V: "Such an unselfish player to help with filling the water in that cup!"
Leland Joseph he is still unselfish and will always be a team player!
😁😁😁😁😁😁😁
0 ask
@MUFC lol who caresssss...
Only time period to see LBJ wearing adidas
Besides his shoes remember when Adidas made the NBA jerseys and they were good quality.
😂😂😂😂😂so true
Facts!!!
Only time period to see him with a hairline
@@mysticalone9135 weirdo
Vitale's passion is UNMATCHED. This video will live on FOREVER. Blessed to have seen Lebrons entire career since high school
This guy is gonna be the next Lebron James mark my words.
No, he will be a bust in the NBA!
No, he will be better!
do u even watch nba? that IS lebron james u fricken idiot!!!
@@RaviKumar-ew1ls issa joke smh
@@RaviKumar-ew1ls r/whoosh
This is chilling. Twenty solid minutes of goosebumps. They had absolutely no idea how right they were, how much 38-year-old LBJ is exactly the same as he was at 17, and how far he'd really go.
Meat ride
@@griffinstrunk1293 Hope you find some joy in your life someday, brother 🙏
After hearin my song John wall u can b da next Lebron💯
U already living in 2024
@@Pabloladin fixed. thanks for the proofreading
Imagine being 17, playing on national television, in an NBA level stadium, being compared to the best players of all time, and being told you could’ve been in the NBA since you were a sophomore...
And then 20 years later...
@@Hyper_Driven that he not only met but exceeded the expectations that came along with that level of platform at `17... is mind boggling
@@skhetan1 yeah with all that pressure since he was in high school and expected to be the next one to be the face of the NBA and yeah exceed those already high expectations, I’ve never seen anything like it. And will most likely be more successful off the court than on it. Far from done.
And then still exceeding expectations
yea because it was all planned but kids like you think its all real. thats called the script, the storyline. lebron James is a illumanti boy toy and always will be. nba uses magnets and tracking technology in the ceilings. fake stars and fake stories got your perceptions manipulated
Who is here after watching the “Shooting Stars Movie” about Lebron and the Team?
His voice hadn’t broke yet.... feels so weird listening to him talk.
This man has been carrying a team since day 1. Now at 36 years old and still averaging 25-8-8 what a fucking GOAT
There’s only one GOAT
Michael Jordan
@Makaveli Pac 4-6😂
@@Tari0919 1-9
@@angelgastelum1717 L
@Makaveli Pac 4-6
Watching this 20 years later in 2022 gives me chills. The commentators were great here; acknowledging the potential threats he could face as a young super star was especially insightful. 20 years later, he has stayed far away from all these troubles, and consistently stayed a great athlete. Consistently stayed a champion.
Also, this video proves that a supportive family member helps you go a long, long way. Watching his mom cheering and jumping up and down just made my eyes watery.
Incredible footage. What a role model. I hope all the best for LeBron James and his family.
@@user-tl5bk9uv8x lack of ball knowledge + fatherless behavior = this comment
Now this Kid From Akron is the All- time leading scorer in the NBA!
Crazy how this kid lived up to every expectation placed on him since 16 years old! THE CHOSEN ONE! 🔥
14:56 Shout out to Rome Trav, won a title in Europe a few years back. So many of Lebron's boys beat the odds and made something for themselves.
He also won here in the philippnes basketball
His boys were trash, 1 played mediocre oversees and another one is a talent agent
Mike Woods dumb
Rome should've went in the NBA don't know why he wasn't drafted. He was built and played like a NBA player
ROMEO TRAVIS is playing as an IMPORT in PBA Magnolia Hotshots was his team in PHILIPPINES... im surprised that LEBRON and him are teammates...
I really hope that Lebron James kid is doing good today
Nope ,sadly he was a bust. Prob working a really low income life, nobody knows where he is to this day🤷♂️
@@Moosewoodworks i heard he lives on the streets of LA, sad story
@@Max-me9ol 😂🤣😅😂🤣😅😂🤣😅😂🤣😅😂🤣😅😂🤣😅🤣😅
@@Max-me9ol yeah I heard that he plays on the los angeles lakes with his boat named caruboat. Weird name but its sad to see him like this
@@Moosewoodworks I’m pretty sure he actually won a ring in 2012 with the Miami Heat, but he was pretty much a non contributor
Crazy how the way they used to talk about him when he was in was hs is how we still talk about him today. Legend man
Goosebumps and Chills
Everyone also hated him in high-school?
@@AM-wi6zo if you hate him, it’s because of politics def not his game.
Someone asked me back then..."You think this LeBron James kid is going to live up to the hype?" And I was like..."No one could live up to this level of hype." I was wrong.
My mom had this expression if I ever said anything about someone not liking me: " They hated Jesus..you think people aren't going to hate you?"
20 years later and he surpassed all the expectations and now became the all time leading scorer in the Nba
One and Only Lebron James🐐
LeBron is the definition of exceeding expectations
Living up to expectations? He has unequivocally exceeded all preconceived expectations
The first I heard of him was when Magic said LBJ was better than him in High school. I knew he had to be something really special for Magic to say that. My opinion is 1. LBJ 2. Wilt. 3. MJ. people will argue about anything so it doesn't matter to me, who says MJ is one, and there certainly is a case for it. I've seen all 3 play, and LBJ is the Greatest all around player ever, and for longevity without doubt.
surpassed !!!
@@vernpascal1531 Just my opinion, but the goat is Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Man had the most unstoppable weapon called The Sky Hook.
@@vernpascal1531 yeah no, you did not see wilt play bud
"I'm not saying he's Magic, I'm not saying he's Jordan." while comparing him to Magic and Jordan the whole game.
and this man LBJ became fucked around and became both🤣
he was literally quoting someone.....
Hopefully one day just being LeBron will be good enough, because he is better than Magic, and he has passed Michael Jordan and Kobe in scoring.
Mike Harkins could my shoot 3’s
@ LeBron is cooking Michael in any aspect of the game
It's crazy at 18 years old, even with all the stardom, before all the money Lebron is able to conduct himself the same way he is now during that post game interview.
DoJoStan 17*
That's because he had professional PR people coaching him since age 16.. At 16, he was already one of the top College recruits in the Country. He was already taking huge sums of money from boosters and had agents and PR people all over him.. They got on this kid at a super young age, so it made him mature and know how to handle the media and stardom really young. Its rare to have someone as highly touted as Lebron at his age.. Mikey Williams may be a similar example today, but Mikey Williams def isnt as good as Lebron was. At least not yet.
@ that's the key in my opinion. Media training is super underrated.
He was 17 at the time FYI
Sorry to be that GUY
Lol but bron is the GOAT
King James 23 High School Lebron was just a different animal 👑 HS BRON IS GOATED FR
The GOAT. This guy is omnipotent for f sake he is EVERYWHERE in the court. Never in my lifetime that I have imagined that there's someone who will surpass my goat Kareem and now here he is number 1 in scoring 4th in assist. Unbelievable truly a one in a kind. Thank you Kareem, Tim Duncan and LeBron for making the right plays and non flashy game bullS**ts unlike other stars - From a 65 year old fan I'm sorry for doubting you when I was younger, I guess it was just nostalgia and refusing to accept that there are people who's better than the guy I idolized.
Bros from Detroit
This kid got talent. I think he will be big in the NBA in the future.
I sure hope so. Looks promising.
@@RichardGarcia93 Naw I heard he tore his ACL in his freshman year of college, he's actually a manager at Applebee's in Cleveland lol
I hope dis kid wins atleast 4 titles b4 he retire
@@IslamIslam-vj5fz imagine how many applebees he probably owns! hahaha
I bet this kid will surpass Kareem in the NBA all time scoring list when he goes to the NBA
So, Oak hill only scored 2 points in the final quarter? Wow.
That 3 at the end of the 3rd really sent them home 12 minutes early😅☠
What's more surprising they scored under 50 points being the number 1 team in the country.
They were still a good team but in their defense their best player, Carmelo Anthony, had just graduated the year before. So they were in a bit of a reload year, lol.
Joe Dunams yeah but they were still the number 1 team in the nation. Its not like they went down to 5 in the nation without Carmelo
Carlos Gonzalez or 2015/2018😂😂😂
"The only guy who can stop Lebron is Lebron"
Lol that's Aomine's line.
syts77 2b. 😃😃😃😃 Just had to give shoutouts to your profile pic, it’s godly. 🌟🌟
10/10 reference;)
@@LaitYumemi Thanks :)
Sadly that’s what prevented him from actually being what a lot falsely claim he is : the greatest ever. He had too much gentle giant in him to truly reach his potential.
bruh do you know when kuroko's basket was written? smh
"The creativity" - LeBron has been doing the same dunk for over 2 decades.
He's gonna be oneeee special athlete *18 years later* Rewrites history....RIP Kobe!!
Wow... he had the perfect words even at a young age.. he handled that interview better than most men that were professionals
I like how even in high school when lebron was asked about himself he still made it about the team as a whole instead of just himself.
Lebron at the age of 17: Country basketball phenomenon
Me at 17: trynna figure out how to turn out my life in a good direction
And then he met the expectations, and exceeded them. The last major record to fall, he toppled and Kareem needed 1560 games for that.
@@AEMoreira81 yup truly the goat
After hearin my song John wall u can b da next Lebron💯💯
Here after he's going to his 10th finals now with the Lakers
And now he is gonna win it in game 4
It’s safe to say Lebron lived up to the hype he was given at that time
Amazing
@@jeffersonagudelo88 actually game 5, but who is counting lol.
jefferson agudelo nope
Everything they said about Lebrons future was wrong. He brought his friends from hs and put them in positions to succeed, never had a scandal, all without losing who he was. Lebron James should be considered the greatest athlete of all time because no one had as much pressure or expectations from such a early age and out did those expectations. LeGoat James
right on
If Jordan hadn't existed LeBron would not have had this much pressure.
Imagine struggling in algebra 2 then having to face Lebron
Ali #1 LeBron #2
@@bryantubbs1695 literally stole that comment lol
18 years old and the guy was killing post game interviews dammmm that’s crazy
Well, he was carrying a 3.5 GPA despite knowing he could go straight to the NBA.
After hearin my song John wall u can b da next Lebron💯💯💯
If you told this 17 year old Lebron that be was going to be the ALL TIME NBA SCORER passing Kareem Abdul Jabar...he would probably say how did you come from the future lol
I remember being 8 years old watching this guy and being amazed. I'm 27 now and STILL amazed by him every game. What a privilege we have had to watch this guy play this well for this long.
It really blew my mind. I grew up in the 90s and stars then really didn't pass like this. Now it's more common for players to focus on passing but at the time it was game changing.
man same! I'm 27, I remember being 8 and having a 'King James' wristband thing. had to ask a teacher what it meant lol
I was also 8. Crazy we almost 30 & he still doing his thing like nothing
His longevity and consistency is the greatest we ever saw in the history of basketball from a player. The guy was for 15 years the best player in nba 👑👑👑🐐🐐🐐
Same bruh! The reason i started playing basketball. Lol
the fact that the opposing coach called him the greatest he ever saw... gives you chills! greatness in the making.
YES!!! you expect that from YOUR teams coach, not the opposing. I expected him to downplay him. mad props!!!
...and some pretty handy names in the bunch he was comparing him to
After hearin my song John wall u can b da next Lebron💯💯
Glad this was suggested for me, Was really cool to watch, and with announcers already knowing they were seeing somthing special in the works.
People watched this game live probably never expected they were watching the kid who’d soon become the NBA’s all time leading scorer. Amazing story to tell both for lebron & the fans who witnessed greatness at it’s birth🙏🏼
Well to be honest that’s probably exactly what they were expecting but dope still
@@derrenkonnor4351 the fact that Kobe was still at his peak during this game i highly doubt that everybody thought he’d be all time leading scorer & not the mamba
Maybe not after this game, but when he scored 25 on the Kings in his debut at 18 years old I knew he had a chance to be the all time leading scorer if he could stay healthy.
20 years later he's a billionaire, a 4 time champion and arguably the greatest player to ever lace them up. AND STILL GOING STRONG. I'd say he lived up to the hype, to say the least.
definitely greatness
icing on the cake: he cared big time for his mom.
Not at all the best player, he listed top 10 but he is the 10 on the list. Legends never die nor can be replaced
@@Isturbo_ name 9 players better than Lebron all time I’ll start you off with one Michael Jordan you got 8 more
Troll
He straight said “there’s a guy playing overseas named Darko Milicic…” lol, that would have been disastrous.
Died laughing when Darko’s name made its way into this broadcast
🤣
Mans was good hindsight we can laugh about it, but he was a great prospect.
I mean the pistons again with the bad picks as always
@@eeshanralhan90 Uhhhh yea...but we won the championship a year later.
This guy got a lot of expectations from others when he was still in high school. Most people would crumble and be a below average player. But this guy is the living proof that can live up all the expectation at young age. Salute to bron bron. Dwade fan though
I remember him in high school - it was super clear he was an exceptional player and nba ready , just formalities in terms of when it was time to go to the NBA - was a complete physical package and born for it.
*cough* zion williamson *cough*
@@breakitdownto Zion still has a lot of time
@@breakitdownto zion wasnt even close to lebrons hype yet alone HS status and career. He won 3/4 chips. Lebron already was leading his variety team as a freshman and i.proved and got better and better. Lebron was already a more well rounded player and had a far better shot than zion does. No hate to zion but he wasnt selling out Arenas, plastered on magazines and games on PPV. Not to mention he did all of this without Social media.
@@Mckylan I agree, LBJ is just the greatest, being able to go through that pressure and live up to his hype. 17th season and still going and winning rings, truly unbelievable.
Yeah, respect to Wemby but this is the greatest prospect in the history of basketball.
12:06 Ohio state coach realizing he ain’t ever getting LBJ. Straight to NBA
I don't see Lyndon B. Johnson on the court, but I do see Lebron James.
@@aaronafrah 🤔That would be hilarious...
@@aaronafrah 😐
Even as a kid he is versing the Warriors.
King
What does "versing" mean?
@@mpm1958 🤦♂️
@@mpm1958 Vs
7 - 15 against these high schoolers too? 😆
I remember sitting in my dorm lobby watching this game. This guy has lived up to the hype for 20 years. Such a difficult thing to do consistently.
back then i imagined him to become a leaner player, like grant hill type...
and never been involved in controversy, always taken the high road. Mentally he's a giant too.
@@Chris-wq3pe he has been involved in controversy he just dealt with it incredibly fast
👍
@@reallysadweeb4454 what controversy has he been in lol
This guy answered post game interview like a professional
Bill Walton is such a gem “look at him floating around the court” “the ball is an extension of his mind” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🔥🔥🔥🔥 13:10
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Would’ve loved to eat acid at a show with Bill Walton back in the day.
So good, “the ball is an extension of his (three ball splashes) mind”
@@statesev The nerve of LeBron to interrupt The Great Bill waxing poetic 😂😂😂
After hearin my song John wall u can b da next Lebron💯
It’s amazing how when we go back to look and listen to old clips like this one and to hear the announcers talking about what did eventually come to fruition, it’s amazing because LEBRON fulfilled these future predictions and more
Exactly! We can't act like they "guessed" it. It didn't just "happen". LeBron gave his everything to get to this elite top 2 ever level
After hearin my song John wall u can b da next Lebron💯💯
Lebron is such a gifted athlete, it’s gonna suck when he retires
Jesse Myers like Kobe dying. I can’t get used to these things
🙌👏
@Jesse Myers 🤴🏾
Unique speed, size & strength
FACT
4:20 its insane to hear a comment like this about a high school kid. Wow
I like How They Said it was LeBron vs the #1 ranked Oak Hill Academy 💀
Always..The NBA is no different
...didn't even mention the token white kids on the bench...