LeBron James is playing in his 23rd season and the expectations for him have been sky-high since day one of his career. 

Possibly the most-talked about prospect in the history of the sport when he was drafted first overall by his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers first overall way back in 2003, James has since become one of the greatest, if not the greatest player in NBA history.

From his now-iconic interview with Bob Costas where he was told that if he didn't become a first-ballot Hall of Famer, he'd be considered a bust, to his "Chosen One" tattoo, outlining exactly where his own expectations were, James has been carrying the weight of the NBA on his shoulders. 

Four championships for three teams, the most-points ever scored and four MVP awards later, James is looking toward the rear view of his long and lofty career. 

When he was asked recently what advice he would give to his younger self when his career began all those years ago, James had a lot to say.

"A lot of advice I would give him. I would just say keep the main thing the main thing. Work hard. There's no substitute for hard work. Hard work and dedication, if you want to be great, are going to pay off," James said (via Dave McMenamin of ESPN). 

James' innate talent has been evident since he first stepped onto an NBA court at just 18 years old, but talent only gets you so far. The longevity and overall greatness that he's been able to achieve is a credit to the dedication he's put into his game and his fitness. 

While James himself once debunked rumors that he spent around $1.5 million on his fitness every year, it's still apparent that fitness has been a top priority for James, evidenced by the fact that at 41 years old he's still keeping up with some of the best in the NBA. This season James is averaging 20.3 points, 4.9 rebounds and 6.5 assists per game as a crucial piece of the Los Angeles Lakers. 

But, for as much paise and accolades that have been heaped on James for over two decades, he's also dealt with more than his fair share of criticism. Entire media empires have seemingly been built on criticizing James, with notable media figures like Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless being some of the most notable offenders. 

James has done his best to tune out the noise, but preparing for that noise is another key piece of advice he would want his younger self to be prepared for. 

"Keep the blinders on. As much as they praise you, it's even triple, quadruple, the people that want to bring you down and want to tear you down every single day. Protect your family. Protect your mental space," James said. 

Above it all, James would want his younger self to enjoy the game that he's loved all his life and has brought innumerable blessings to him. 

In the twilight of his career, James knows that more than everything else, through all the ups, downs and iconic moments, basketball is a game, and games are fun. 

"Just go out and have fun. Enjoy the ride because you never know when it's going to come to an end. It goes fast."