Heat forward LeBron James cracks a wide smile during Tuesday's win vs. the Timberwolves. (Photo: Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports) LeBron James, environmental MVP. The Miami Heat star reduces his carbon footprint the same way a 12-year-old might, by riding his bicycle to basketball games. The 6-9, 250-pound three-time NBA MVP has been doing this for a while now, taking advantage of South Florida's warm climes. But that still doesn't make it any less unusual. "He's a different animal," teammate Dwyane Wade told Fox Sports' Chris Tomasson on Tuesday. "He's a different beast. What can you say?'' TUESDAY: Heat lose boards but win game vs. T'wolves James bragged a bit about not using a car Saturday, when the Heat hosted the Washington Wizards. He rode to shootaround and the game, then back home at night. "The last game (against Washington)," James told Tomasson. "All day. I went without a car all day. To shootaround. After shootaround. To the game. And (home)." Wade explained, "The other night, everybody was a little worried, but he's a grown man so it's fine" STILL THE BEST: Or has Kevin Durant passed James? It's what he does. And don't worry, Heat fans. He says he can't be bothered even when people recognize his giant frame. "People try to stop me, but I'll be in my zone," James said. In a great profile earlier this year, ESPN The Magazine's Kevin Van Valkenburg theorized the biking, which dates back to James' youth, gave him the mobility to grow as a player: Or maybe he just doesn't like shelling out for gas. James rides with a group of kids during his 2010 charity race in Akron. (Photo: Phil Long, AP)
Tags
Even when he was 9, it didn't matter how chaotic or confusing life was going to be as long as he could ride his bike and join a game. It didn't matter if he wasn't sure where he was going to sleep; if his mom, Gloria, was going to tell him to pack up and move yet again. On a basketball court, he was always going to be picked, made to feel like he belonged, because he understood the game in ways that others did not. He recognized angles. He had the ability to create space. He could anticipate teammates cutting to the basket and reward them.
