Discipline.
Training every day for twenty years, never indulging in delicious fatty meat, never drinking beer.
Maintaining a healthy diet.
In short, never being able to eat or drink to your heart's content.
There were limits on everything you ate and drank.
That alone eliminated 80% of people.
And if you wanted to follow in the footsteps of the gods, talent and personal skill weren't enough. You also needed good teammates and a bit of luck.
If Ray Allen hadn't hit that life-saving three-pointer in the 2013 Finals, LeBron's achievements today would be even more modest.
And even then, LeBron still hadn't managed to reach godlike status.
Now Wang Yi was the one who seemed likely to achieve it.
How could LeBron not envy him, or even feel a little jealous?
Then LeBron turned to Popovich and asked, "Old Popo, what do you think?"
Old Popo replied, "At the moment, his achievements are indeed a little behind Michael's. But I believe that after this year's Finals, he could take a big step toward catching up to Michael."
Then the old man posed another question:
"Let me ask you something else. Who do you think are the top three players in history? LeBron, you go first."
LeBron eyed Popovich suspiciously. "You go first."
Popovich knew what LeBron was suspicious about. He grinned at him.
"Relax. It's just the three of us. What leaves your mouth goes into my ear, and no fourth person will know. I also promise I won't tell the reporters what we say tonight."
"I'm still skeptical," LeBron said, "so you go first."
Seeing LeBron dodge the question, Popovich turned to Wang Yi. "Wang, you've come all this way, so as our guest, you should go first."
"For the top three, number one is obviously Michael, number two