LeBron 21, GQ 2: The postgame Q&A

Six pale, earthbound desk jockeys from GQ challenged the greatest basketball player on earth, also known as LeBron James, to a game of basketball at the time and place of his choosing. Unfortunately, the challenge was accepted.

The story is in the February issue of GQ. Here's an edited version of the postgame Q&A:

GQ: Who's the toughest guy in the league for you to cover?

LEBRON JAMES: There are a few guys. Kobe Bryant. Paul Pierce. Dwyane Wade. Carmelo Anthony. Chris Paul is a tough cover.

LeBron James, who has appeared on magazine fronts from Sports Illustrated to Fortune to Vogue, will grace the February cover of GQ. Courtesy of GQ

Do you like the challenge of guarding somebody small and quick like Chris Paul?

I like the challenge of guarding the best player on the opposing team, no matter who they are.

Best defender in the league on you?

Myself.

No, the best defender against you.

I'm the only guy who can stop me.

Are those Nikes you're wearing? [Points to LeBron's fuzzy old-man slippers.]

These? [Looks down at feet.] Yeah. Them the ... Air Soft Slim Cushion LeBrons right there.

You're about to turn 24. Are you a mentor to other guys in the league?

Absolutely. We got three rookies on our team right now, and you gotta help them through something called the rookie wall, which all rookies hit.

Did you hit that wall today, when you had to practice and then play us?

No, no. I had a reserve tank for you guys [laughs].

If we'd played you five-on-one, what would have happened?

You guys would've found a way to score on me. Five-on-one is a huge advantage. But I think I'd have been able to make a couple, too.

Would you have taken it inside against us?

Well, that's my game. When we get to crunch time, I go inside.

We were ready to take the charge, though.

You would not be sitting here right now if you'd taken the charge on me. You'd be in the Cleveland Clinic.

You always seemed to be, like, 18 going on 38. You never got into any trouble. Who played that mentor role for you?

My mom raised me the right way, to know the difference between right and wrong and be accountable for your own actions. Another thing that helped me is that I got drafted to a team that I grew up a half hour away from. I was able to stay home with my friends and family, the people I grew up with, and have that comfort level. That definitely helped.

Where were you on election night?

In my basement.

Did you have a party?

I didn't have a party, but I had a lot of friends and family over. Like my father-in-law and a few uncles of mine, and I asked them what did they think about this day basically, they never thought it would happen. Knowing what they went through when they were younger, they never thought they would see a day like this. It was great to see the joy they had.

What did you think about that day?

I thought it was unbelievable. Being African-American and growing up in the inner city, you only think there are a few ways out. It shouldn't be like that, but it is. You think there's basketball or doing it the wrong way, and we all know what the wrong way is. Seeing Obama get elected, you're like, Wow, I can put on a shirt and tie and run for office. If not get elected president, I could be the mayor, or, I don't know, you can do anything now. It means a lot.

Did you keep your kids up to watch it?

They were up, but they don't know what's going on. It's something I can explain to them down the line, but they didn't want to watch that, honestly. They want to watch cartoons.

You campaigned for Obama. Did you think twice about putting yourself out there politically?

I did. But it was about what I believed in and who I thought was better. Every time I saw Obama in an interview, he was always on point. I thought he could be the reason that this world could be better. I think because of my age, and plus my voice and the power that I have as a young man being out there, I thought I could make a difference. And he won Ohio, so that felt good.

Had you met him before you campaigned for him?

A few times. We did David Letterman together, and I talked to him on the phone a few times.

What do you think of his game?

I haven't seen much of it. They say he's a smooth lefty.

We're coming out of a period where, for the most part, very few athletes have been outspoken politically.

I think if you want to do it, you should. But you shouldn't feel forced to do it. If you're not comfortable getting involved in campaigns, don't do it.

Are you still in touch with Barack's camp?

Since the election I haven't been, but I was right before, and I look forward to seeing him and talking to him.

How does that contact actually work?

We figure out a way. [starts goofing] You know, the wires be tapped all the time with Obama's phones, and I don't like everybody up in my business, so I try not to talk to him as much.

You must have tons of people who want you to get involved with their causes. You must have to pick and choose.

Well, I'm a big guy. I go for the big lights.

What's the story behind your ink?

Everything that's on my body means a lot to me. I have my family, my companies, what I stand for, where I'm from. Everything that gets me from point A to point B is inked up on my body.

Any mistakes?

Yeah, I got a few. But they've been, uh, covered.

What's her name?

No, no. It's just that when I got bigger, when I got really bigger, the tattoos got smaller. I never had to put a girl's name on me and get it covered up.

We were talking about your getting involved with companies, not just to collect a check but to really be involved in the company itself. How does that affect you as your career goes on? Every decision you make about where you're gonna play and what you're gonna do affects not just you but Coca-Cola and State Farm and Nike and ...

At the end of the day, they know I'm going to make the right decision for myself and for my family and for the companies I'm with. I never just wanted an endorsement deal where they write me a check and say we need you here these nine days and you have to do what we say. I think I'm much bigger than that, and my personality's much bigger than that, and I can help them out as much as they can help me out.

Will you need to consider what those companies want when you make your free-agent decision?

They're gonna back me no matter what.

What kind of input do you have into the creative decisions a company like Nike makes? That latest ad is so beautiful.

A lot. You're saying the ad with the chalk?

Yeah.

That comes from me. I sit with the director. And before we even get to the director, we have these meetings in Oregon, where the campus is, and we talk about certain ads that we want to do, and I have just as much input as the guy who thought of the ad.

Was Lil Wayne's inclusion in this recent ad something that came from you?

Yeah, it was. When you do certain ads, you try to have people in there who are relevant -- we all know that, in the music industry, Kanye West and Lil Wayne are two of the hottest artists we have right now. I think people can relate to that. You know how you see a lot of celebrities in NBA games? We made it seem like it was a real game. It was a Portland Trailblazers game, and Lil Wayne just happened to be there, and he happened to be wearing my shoes. So we tried to make it relevant to what's going on.

Wayne's more relevant than Jack Nicholson, huh?

Uh. Well. Where I'm from, he is. Where I'm from, Lil Wayne is.

A lot of athletes want to make records --

No. I would never put out a record.

Acting?

I may be interested in a little acting.

Ever get any offers?

I haven't, yet. Oh, as a matter of fact I have, but nothing that buys my time. My time is very valuable.

Will you encourage your boys to play basketball?

They do already. LeBron junior's 4. He's playing in a league called Tiny Tots. It's fun to go out and watch those kids play. They have no sense of the word pass. They just shoot every time.

Did you ever think it might be putting a little pressure on LeBron junior to name him LeBron junior?

Um. Yeah, I did. I did. But I'm gonna raise him the right way, and he's gonna make the decisions about what he wants to do. I'm not gonna force him to be a basketball player. I just want him to be successful and happy.

When you talk to him, what do call him?

I call him Bronny.

Is that what your mom called you?

She called me Bron-Bron.

And what does he call you?

Daddy. He know better.

You said in the past you wanted to be the first athlete to make a billion dollars. What was the significance to you of that number?

I was basically saying I want to maximize my potential as a businessman. I don't want to look back twenty years from now and think, Why didn't I do this when I had the muscle? It's not, I made a billion, yay, let confetti rain. It's all about maximizing potential.