Nuggets' Malone recalls genius of nail-clipping LeBron
Michael Malone has coached in the NBA for nearly 15 years, so naturally, the Denver Nuggets head coach has a deep archive of inside scoops from his earlier days as an assistant coach in the Association.
When asked about his favorite memories as an assistant with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Malone shared with Mile High Sports' Doug Ottewill a rather entertaining first-hand account of a young LeBron James.
LeBron is always clipping his nails. That first year, in timeouts he was always clipping his nails. Again, I grew up with my father - old school, eye contact - and so at first it was really pissing me off. So I called him on it - "Hey LeBron, what did we just say? What are we doing for pick-and-roll coverage?" And without even missing a beat, (he'd say), "We're blitzing with the five, showing with the four, one and three are going to switch." And he had everything. So after that I realized that his I.Q. is off the charts. He's always paying attention, and he was locked in. I always got a kick out of that.
Over the course of his illustrious 13-year career, King James has been caught on camera clipping - or biting - his fingernails on occasion.
Perhaps a commitment to personal hygiene is the mark of a true basketball genius.