Stephen A. Smith has admitted he would go as far as spying on LeBron James to discover the secret behind the Philadelphia 76ers star's remarkable longevity in the NBA.
James, now 42 and playing his 24th NBA season, continues to feature despite the physical demands of a career spanning more than two decades.
His fitness has become even more notable amid a growing list of injuries across the league, with Philadelphia, who are also relying on him to help cover for absences in their frontcourt.
Speaking on The Stephen A. Smith Show , the ESPN personality questioned how James has managed to remain healthier than many younger players.
Smith said: "How is it that LeBron James is 42 years of age in his 24th year, and he's healthier than most? Because whatever it is that he's doing to his body, damn it, could you tell us? So we can do it, too."
The broadcaster then joked that he would follow James around if he were an NBA player, hoping to uncover the routines that have helped him sustain his career.
"I'd follow him, for crying out loud. I'd spy on him. I wanna figure out what the hell he's doing. I wanna know his diet. Supplement protocol. Conditioning protocol. When he wakes up, when he goes to sleep. I wanna know," Smith added.
James' longevity has become a talking point again as the 76ers manage injuries to several players, including forwards Jabari Walker and Dominick Barlow. Joel Embiid has also missed time as Philadelphia look to manage his workload.
James himself missed one game before returning to face the Detroit Pistons, who handed Philadelphia its first defeat of the regular season.
The veteran has even taken on a centre role as the 76ers deal with problems in their frontcourt, underlining how important his availability has become.
Smith's comments reflect a question that has followed James throughout his career: how has he continued to perform at such a high level for so long?
While the broadcaster wants to uncover every detail of his routine, James' approach to diet, conditioning and recovery remains a subject of intense interest as Philadelphia pursue a deep postseason run.
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