Deion Sanders has impacted more than just football players.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James said in a feature that Sanders is sports illustrated Athlete of the Year, Pro Football Hall of Famer and Colorado Buffaloes head coach influenced his pregame ritual.
“Prime Time taught me: ‘Look good, feel good. Feel good, play good. Play good, and they pay.'” I still put my uniform on the floor and look at it before putting it on . That’s what I get from Dieng,” James said. “He’s always good on the court — and he doesn’t just talk the talk, he talks about it. It was great to watch. “
In addition to laying out his jersey before every game, James is also known for throwing chalk into the air before taking the court.
This is James’ 21st season in the NBA and his 6th season with the Lakers. The 38-year-old is aiming to win his fifth NBA championship this season.
The Purple and Gold started the 2023-24 season with an 11-8 record but finished seventh in the Western Conference.
As for Sanders, he just finished his first season as head coach at Colorado State. Buffalo finished the 2023 season with a disappointing 4-8 record after losing its final six games of the year.
While Colorado struggled in Sanders’ first season at the helm, James insists the former NFL player will be able to lead the program to significant success in the future.
“Deion’s legacy in football is solidified. Everything else is extra credit at this point. Give him a little time to lead this program at Colorado and he’ll lock it in. He’s one of those guys. One – he was one of them.
“Prem is doing what he’s asked to do, both on and off the field.”