He gets a special four-page scouting report before every game. His teammates only get a two-page report.
Source: SI
He holds an annual "Hell Week" of grueling workouts with other elite athletes at his house in Akron.
Source: ESPN
He taught himself to play power forward. During the 2012 season he started practicing every day with the Heat centers, instead of the guards.
Source: ESPN
He keeps a strict diet, refusing to eat red meat or pork. He eats health foods, and stays as hydrated as possible.
Source: SI
Despite growing up without a home and missing a lot of school, he turned into a good student, graduating from high school with a 3.0 GPA.
Source: Cleveland.com
In high school, when he was already famous, he drew a picture of "Macbeth" for extra credit in English class. His teacher keeps it in a bank vault.
Source: Cleveland.com
After a December 2012 loss to the Knicks, he stayed at the arena for a late-night workout to get better.
Source: ESPN via Yahoo
And speaking of workouts, James trains with Miami strength trainer David Alexander, hauling unfathomable amounts of weight crossfit-style.
Source: Heavy
He also does yoga and stretching to warm up and warm down, before and after a day of training.
Source: ShortList
He desperately wants to be a slightly better free-throw shooter. One big free-throwing goal of his was to get from 75% to 80%.
Source: ESPN
He's had this to say about switching positions: "Imagine you have studied your whole life to be something, and you wake up one day and say, 'I have to change.' ... It's like reading two books at the same time."
Source: SI
He's obsessed with being better than Kevin Durant, and has said, "He's my inspiration because I see the direction he's headed, and it's the same direction I'm headed. I know his mind-set, and he knows mine. It's a collision course. We're driving one another."
Source: SI
Coach K talks about his work ethic like he's a god, saying, "There's nothing he can't do. God gave him a lot but he is using everything. He's one of the unique sports figures of all time, really, and he's right in that area where it's all come together."
Source: SI
But James also sometimes calls the plays himself, proving that he goes above and beyond the role of the typical player.
Source: Business Insider