LeBron’s Strange Deadlift Video: Dr. Kelly Starrett Explains What’s Really Going On

LeBron’s Strange Deadlift Video: Dr. Kelly Starrett Explains What’s Really Going On

Author: TRAIN HARD Media August 19, 2025 Duration: 55:05

NBA superstar LeBron James recently went viral for a deadlift video that had the internet scratching its head. Was it bad form? Brilliant training? Or something else entirely? The Home Team is joined by Dr. Kelly Starrett to break down exactly what’s happening, what we can learn from it, and how it ties into bigger conversations about training, injury prevention, and youth sports.

From hot takes on LeBron’s trainer’s methods to why pro athletes train differently than the rest of us, we cover the nuances of performance training—and where the general public often gets it wrong. We also dig into the rise of Achilles injuries, how parents can act as “human performance directors” for their kids, and why sports are a non-negotiable for youth development.

Episode Timestamps:

  • 0:00 Kelly joins the Home Team

  • 1:50 Questioning LeBron’s trainer’s qualifications

  • 3:40 Kelly’s optimistic hot take

  • 6:00 BUT… he’s doing couch stretch!

  • 7:01 Why pro basketball players train differently

  • 10:30 Critiquing the strength training world

  • 12:40 The gym is the safest place in the world—LeBron’s goal isn’t getting stronger

  • 14:22 The complicated rise of Achilles injuries

  • 18:14 Sometimes you just let people be

  • 20:10 Does CrossFit make athletes look non-athletic?

  • 24:50 The gym should serve the court, not the other way around

  • 26:30 High school sports demand more than ever

  • 27:50 Parents as untrained “human performance directors”

  • 30:00 The pay-to-play problem in youth sports

  • 31:02 The purpose of athletics

  • 33:17 Why kids should learn Olympic lifting

  • 36:44 MDV’s World Bodysurfing Championship debut

  • 41:25 Carbs that help performance (fueling is key)

  • 49:55 It all depends on the sport and the athlete

  • 52:14 The “beard of wisdom” moment

  • 53:33 Could we do what they do at their age?


    Thanks for tuning in to the Jason Khalipa Podcast! 🎥 The Home Team goes live on YouTube every Tuesday and Friday at 9AM PST.

    Follow us on Instagram:

    ⁠JK Podcast⁠

    ⁠Jason⁠

    ⁠Gabe⁠

    ⁠MDV⁠

    ⁠Dennis⁠


    ⁠Train with us on the TRAIN HARD App⁠

    ⁠Find your program⁠

    ⁠Subscribe to our newsletter⁠


    Dr. Kelly Starrett: thereadystate.com


You’ll find a refreshingly direct tone in the Jason Khalipa Podcast, produced by TRAIN HARD Media. It’s a series grounded in the belief that strength isn’t just physical-it’s built through discipline, clear leadership, and showing up intentionally in all areas of life. Each episode feels like a candid talk between friends, where Jason delves into the mechanics of fitness alongside the broader challenges of fatherhood and cultivating a resilient mindset. The conversations avoid theory and abstraction, focusing instead on the tangible work required to build a capable and purposeful existence. Listeners hear real stories and practical takeaways, often punctuated with laughter, that challenge them to reflect and then move. This isn’t about hype or empty motivation; it’s about the incremental, sometimes messy, work of getting better. Tuning into this podcast means joining a community focused on applied wisdom, where every topic, from gym routines to family dynamics, is discussed with an honesty that’s both relatable and actionable. If you’re looking for a genuine resource in the health and fitness space that connects physical training to the core of how you live, this series provides exactly that.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Jason Khalipa Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Is America Going Sober? Alcohol, Gen-Z, and the Rise of New Vices [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:27
America is drinking less, but is that really a good thing? In this Home Team episode, we break down the stats, debate whether alcohol is truly on the decline, and ask the bigger question: what’s replacing it? From vaping…
Will the Pete and Bobby Challenge Make America Great Again? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:46
Jason Khalipa, MDV, and Gabe Yanez break down the Pete and Bobby Challenge—and whether it’s really the answer to getting America moving again.From the politics of fitness to the realities of setting standards, The Home T…
Is Anyone Watching The CrossFit Games? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:49
Is Anyone Watching the CrossFit Games? + The Burpee Test Results Are InThis week, the crew is fired up—and not just because Jason was late after pushing through the TRAIN HARD Burpee Test. The guys talk mindset, grit, an…
Active Shooter in NYC: What Would You Do? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:06
What would you do in an active shooter situation? Following a recent tragedy in NYC, Jason, Gabe, and MDV discuss how to prepare for moments of crisis—mentally and physically. From trusting your gut to keeping your head…
Is Exercise USELESS For Weight Loss? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:19
Is it true that exercise doesn’t help with weight loss? This week, the Home Team takes on the controversial claim and breaks down what the science (and real life) actually say. From the “Burn” book on hunter-gatherer met…