The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Houston Rockets 140 – 109. They secured the number 3 seed in the NBA Playoffs. Lebron James left the game in the middle of the 3rd quarter with a groin injury. Still, with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves (AR), the Lakers soundly defeated the Rockets.
Austin Reaves left the game with about 4 minutes in the 4th quarter. Lebron smiled and greeted AR. Austin had 23 points, 7 rebounds, and 6 assists. Not bad for the 26-year-old undrafted free agent from Wichita State University.
Unlike Austin, Lebron was the number 1 overall NBA draft pick in 2003. Sports Illustrated anointed Lebron as The Chosen One. Since then, Lebron won 4 NBA Championships. He broke the All-Time NBA scoring record surpassing 50,000 points in his career.
Lebron playfully put Austin in a headlock to give him a noogie. Then both faced each other raising their arms in victory. Lebron and Austin have nothing, but mutual mad love and respect. Lebron has mentored Austin since he joined the Lakers. Austin is very grateful, too.
I believe Lebron James might be the NBA GOAT for his sustained level of greatness. In his 22nd NBA season, 40-year-old Lebron plays at the elite level. At least for me, Lebron is the GOAT, because he’s about the greatness in others. He’s about the greatness in Austin Reaves, in Luka Doncic. He loves the game of basketball and wants to leave it greater than when he came into it. Lebron was proud of Austin. Proud of the NBA player he’s become. That might be as meaningful as winning another NBA Championship. Maybe.
I know Lebron’s smile for Austin. I smile the same way when I teach Aikido to kids, when I see they’re the best that they can be. Lebron is one of the 2 greatest NBA Players of All-Time. After over 35 years of Aikido, I’m Godan (5th degree black belt). By definition, Lebron is greater than Austin. By definition, I know far more Aikido than the kids.
Lebron works on himself to be the greatest that he can be. I work on myself to be the greatest that I can be, too. No, I’m not in Lebron’s stratosphere of greatness. Still at a certain point, it doesn’t matter how great we can become. We’re good enough. Others becoming as great as they can be is far more meaningful. That they become greater than us is more meaningful, too.
It’s no longer about me. It’s about others, about them. Ishibashi Sensei said that we keep training in Aikido for as long as we can so that we can pass on all that the late Mizukami Sensei gave us. Mizukami Sensei said, “Take a glancing blow if you have to. You’re not always going to get away scot-free. It’s one time.” We’re part of Sensei’s lineage, his profound legacy.
We teach students to throw with their feeling out, throw from their one point, ki. When the attacker attacks, you think to yourself, “I have you.” Don’t defend. Make the attacker defend. You’re stronger inside than outside. Mizukami Sensei said, “Just train.” That goes for anything meaningful in life. We just train to have a meaningful life.
I’m 63 years old. It’s not all about me. It’s no longer about me, too. I’m grateful for my Sensei’s: Mizukami Sensei, Cognard Hanshi, and Ishibashi Sensei. Who I am is because of them. I work on myself, not on others. That’s all I can do. There’s always something to work on, to refine, and improve. Just train.
I give away all that I’ve learned and gotten to others. Maybe, that helps them discover their own innate greatness. The past is in the past. I only have the present. I hope that who I am and what I do helps inspire others to be as great as they can be. And the world becomes as better place, too. That’s my sincerest wish. Amen.
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Photo: iStock
