Tuesday, August 9th, 2011 at 9:00 am  |  130 responses

LeBron James Working Out With Hakeem Olajuwon


by Marcel Mutoni@marcel_mutoni

Kobe Bryant did it. So did Dwight Howard (twice, in fact.)

It’s now LeBron James’ turn to benefit from the tutelage of the NBA’s postgame Yoda.

James, long maligned for seemingly not working hard enough to develop a deadly postgame (despite obvious physical advantages over, well, everyone), has enlisted Hakeem Olajuwon to help change things.

From the AP:

“Right now I’ve just been focusing on being a better player, working on my game every single day,” James said. “Like I said, the Dallas Mavericks were a great team and they deserved to win that championship. And I’ll just use that as motivation coming into this season.”

He’s also trying to deliver on his vow to be even better whenever the Heat resume play, saying he’s been in Houston at times this offseason to learn post play from one of the game’s all-time greats, former Rockets star Hakeem Olajuwon.

“I look at what he was able to do throughout his career,” James said. “Unbelievable talent. Multiple champion. Just to see how he was able to dominate in the low post, for me as an individual, I just try to look at some of the things I feel I need to get better at and hit home at it. Our team becomes better if I continue to get better and that’s what it’s about.”

For about eight years now, fans and media have wondered why LeBron didn’t look more comfortable posting guys up, and instead focused on bull-rushing to the hoop or the long outside jumper.

It’s encouraging to learn that even the player many consider to be the best in the League, sees room for improvement in his game.

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  • Shem

    Exactly what he needed. Biggest weakness are post game and left handed dribbling. This should take care of that post game and then LeBron is becomes one of the hardest players in the league to guard.. if he wasn’t already

  • http://slamonline.com Bryan Crawford

    Slow… Clap.

  • http://64dollacologne.tumblr.com/ cramzy

    dream should just open up a school

  • http://64dollacologne.tumblr.com/ cramzy

    …and how cool is it to have a nickname like “Dream” and be able to pull it off?

  • http://www.zpringbank.eu Jelte

    Eddy Curry is next?

  • seriousblack

    Good. Now get this kid a post game asap. He should have been on this four years ago.

  • YoungB

    If people thought it was hard to guard lebron before they aint seen nothing yet

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    This was/is the one missing aspect of his game. If he masters this he will be 100% unstoppable.

  • http://www.kb24.com The Seed

    Everybody copying Kobe. BOOK IT!!

  • Danny_W_UK

    He needs to sort his head out next…..

  • queazy

    If LeBron starts working the paint, I guess this means Bosh should either start playing the 5 or start looking for work elsewhere. I would lean toward the latter. Make it happen, Riley!

  • http://www.slamonline.com Nick Tha Quick

    Wondering when JTaylor comes in here and inexplicably makes this Kobe’s fault…In related news, nice to see Bron finally humbling himself to seek instruction from the best post player.

  • seriousblack

    So according to the Seed Kobe was the first to work on his post game. Brilliant. Nevermind the fact that Kobe is the basketball’s biggest swagger jacker.

  • http://philosopher.view@blogspot.com The Philosopher

    LONG… LIVE… THE KING.

  • DieselMechanic

    It’s not rocket science Lebron. Just catch the ball in the post, face up, and attack the rim. Watch some old Karl Malone footage. Geesh.

  • LP

    wow…FACE UP???? thats what he doesn’t want to do , thats called a FACE UP game, POST GAME means your back is to the basket, protecting the ball, and backing your defender down to hit him with a series of moves.

  • http://www.slamonline.com Wayno

    lol @ LP…yeah, I don’t think LBJ needs any help facing up…DieselMechanic – FAIL

  • http://www.hoopsvibe.com/features/overdribbling chiqo

    dream will teach him all of that i’m sure. the point is that he should work on getting the ball in places where he’ll be able to take a higher percentage shot, be it by face up or post move or teleportation. if dwight improved as much as he did, lebron should be able to do at least that much.

  • http://www.nba.com TheBigL

    @LP. Nah, post game means game in the post. Old school post game is back-to-the-basket. Nowadays, I’d say it’s more and more face up. Still, I think what LeBron needs IS a back 2 basket post game. When he backs down he usually ends up passing the ball to a cutter or an open shooter.

  • T-Money

    shem: left-handed dribbling, really? you do know he’s actually a lefty who happens to shoot with his right hand?

  • jumpman22

    do they get discount if he brings CB in as well? He should be there.

  • Morgan

    Great decision but will need a lot more than a couple sessions with the Dream to become a good enough post player. Hopefully he can at least improve his footwork so he stops taking three steps on the regular. If he cant get the footwork down forget about the rest of it (hook shots, fadeaways, etc)

  • http://Dragonballz Poop

    I think that if Lebron gets a post up game, he will be as unstoppable as morgan freeman :) . But on a more serious note, Lebron alreaddy has a decent post up game, and you can see that by looking at the stats.

  • http://www.slamonline.com/ 1982

    I dunno if it’s fair to say everyone copies Kobe when Kobe patented his game after someone too. But this is good, I hope he benefits from this.

  • mo

    Three things LeBron needs to work on: Technique, Footwork, and Post Position.

  • Yesse

    Love the comments.

  • http://cnbc.com Da_Real_JTaylor

    Copying Kobe?! Kobe might have had a postgame but you see how often he took advantage of that on the playoffs. Nobodies copying Kobe. Brons working on his game so he can win the championship this year and finally become 100% unstoppable

  • Red

    It’s about damn time he learned to play in the post! SMH

  • http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/ec61f8a82f/kobe-bryant-on-the-nba-lockout?rel=by_user nbk

    Just because Kobe went to Hakeem to help get better doesn’t mean anyone is copying him. That’s like saying John Wall copied Derrick Rose because he was tutored by Rod Strickland.

  • http://www.twitter.com/dfrance21 dfrance21

    I really don’t think lack of a post game is LBJ’s problem. Work on it of course, but he needs to figure out what type of player he’s gonna be if he ever wants to get to the next level. Does he want to be an aggressive scorer that can pass, or a passer that can sometimes aggressively score?

  • http://www.kb24.com The Seed

    JTaylor
    I am the one using your sign in, Honestly its not me, I am not that petty.
    Kobe sought out Hakeem first to improve his post game. Lebron sees the success of Kobe post game and needs and wants it.
    nbk
    First of all no NBA player should be tutored by Rod Strickland period, go seek out Tim Hardaway or John Stockton or anybody else. Rod Strickland is on Kentucky bench he is lucky the Head Coach gave him a job.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    It’s the seed why even act like he’s here. And of course thats the first thing that comes to mind is the fact that Kobe had gone to Hakeem for years, and we saw Dwight do it also, and now Bron. He isn’t copying anyone any more than Kobe copys MJ. You look at the greats before you and you see what they did to become great, and you do the same yourself. It’s looking at the past and learning not copying. It’s scary now cause if Bron gets a post game he will be unstoppable.

  • http://www.twitter.com/dfrance21 dfrance21

    Wow Seed you must have no idea who Rod Strickland is.

  • irondan21

    Smh, about 3-4 years late.

  • http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/ec61f8a82f/kobe-bryant-on-the-nba-lockout?rel=by_user nbk

    Rod Strickland Tutored Derrick Rose, John Wall, Brandan Knight on how to become a POint GUard in the NBA. You know what else? Kyrie Irving is his GodSon. I’m pretty sure there isn’t a better POint Guard coach on earth.

  • MLK4Life

    Not like there’s going to be a season anyway. So he will have a lot of time to work on it.

  • seriousblack

    Funny how the Seed sees no problem with Kobe copying everything down to MJ’s mannerisms, something I find creepy, but a player Lebron’s size is copying Kobe in developing a post game. This guy is definitely off.

  • Rainman

    ABOUT TIME U GOT URSELF A POSTGAME! I;ve been saying this FOREVER, this guy couldnt post down Rajon Rondo in the playoffs! Hakeem is the guy to get u there.

  • Rainman

    And again…another idiotic comment by The Seed…BOOK IT!

    U must not know, Rod Strickland had himself VERY good career, and was a true point guard to the fullest extent. Best player to never be in an all star game… BOOK IT!

  • http://www.kb24.com The Seed

    Rod Strickland was a good player, yall acting like he was ALL-NBA. Come on people. Also I can care less about overrated John Wall who plays better in street ball games, Brandan Kight career back up pure point guard/started for a few teams and Kyrie “should not have been picked number one” Irving–ex. Enes Kanter. I rather have BJ Armstrong teach point guard skills than Rod Strickland.

  • http://www.twitter.com/dfrance21 dfrance21

    BJ Armstrong!? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

  • http://www.facebook.com/joe.l.brewer3 BlackPhantom

    There you go, Lebron. Do what it takes to get to the promised land. @Seed STOP MAKING EVERYTHING INTO A KOBE vs. LEBRON DEBATE. Damn, you give Kobe fans a terrible name.

  • robb

    Great decision by Lebron. Athleticism isn’t eternal. A player with his size, strength and speed is great to see but his court vision, midrange shooting along with a post game will give him the weapons for a long career.

  • permaculture james

    This is good for Lebron. I also think he needs to learn to move without the ball so that he isn’t in that 1 v 5 situation at the top of the key — that is some ugly bball to me and can end up limiting team chemistry.

  • jay

    he should have done this 4 years ago..this should help him in the 4th instead of jacking up 3′s..that said..key to this is foot work and his foot work is atrocious and no i aint no lebron hater!

  • http://www.facebook.com/joe.l.brewer3 BlackPhantom

    If Lebron makes this post game work he’ll finally get the ring he emotionally scarred a whole city for.

  • JL

    nice lebron. finally turning it around and seeing the flaws in your game and working on them! he was able to dominate thru his career even without doing so but he has the potential to be the greatest ever if he really works on his game. and I’m not a fan of his personality. but he has got simply the best talent and loads of potential still. very durable player as well. makes next season more fun! oh crap… please, let there be a next season sooner rather than later.

  • http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/ec61f8a82f/kobe-bryant-on-the-nba-lockout?rel=by_user nbk

    Rod Strickland career stats, 13PPG 7APG 1.5SPG – Produced in his 5 year coaching career, 3 #1 Overall Picks (Despite only 2 PG being Picked #1 in NBA history prior), 1 MVP. Every PG he has coached since 2008 has been drafted in the lottery, Rose, Bledsoe, Wall, Knight. — BJ Armstrong is Derrick Rose’s agent, and has supplied nothing to make anyone intelligent think he would be good to have training point guards. Oh and Rod Strickland is considered by many as the most underrated PG in NBA history. Strickland averaged at least 17 points and eight assists per game for five consecutive seasons (1994-1998). – Brandon Jennings called Strickland a top 5 PG all time, just to show you how revered he is among actual NBA PG’s.

  • seriousblack

    How is John Wall overrated when in the ONE NBA season he’s had, he had a better rookie season than Derrick Rose, Rajon Rondo, and Russell Westbrook? Rod Strickland wasn’t a bum player but he’s a better teacher than he was a player, which is true of a lot of coaches/trainers. Your commeents just get dumber and dumber.

  • http://www.facebook.com/joe.l.brewer3 BlackPhantom

    “Guaranteed to make ‘em jump like Rod Strickland.”- Raekwon. Sorry whenever that names comes up the song “Triumph” flashes into my mind.

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