Basketball fans have seen this story before. Long before college stardom or professional success, many of the game’s biggest names were first captured on grainy home videos, dribbling on miniature hoops and falling in love with the sport at a very young age.
A 7-year-old kid has fans wondering if he is the next LeBron James
AJ Tribble is following that familiar path, and at just 4 years old, he is already turning heads.
The kid, who lives in Kentucky, has become a dribbling sensation thanks to videos showing his advanced ball-handling skills for his age. His control, coordination and confidence with the ball have drawn attention from basketball fans who are used to seeing those traits develop years later.
A massive talent on the works
“Just to see him at his age doing the stuff he does, it’s amazing,” said his father, Andrew Tribble. “That’s my best friend. That’s who I hang with all day every day. That’s who I’m with.”
According to his dad, basketball is the center of AJ’s world. From the moment he wakes up to the time he goes to bed, the game is rarely far from his mind. “When he was younger, I bought him a little Playskool rim,” Andrew said. “He would sit and shoot at it all day with his pacifier in his mouth.”
That early introduction to the sport has turned into hours of practice, even at such a young age. AJ already knows the players he likes to watch and emulate, listing Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Devin Booker as his favorites.
While no one knows what the future holds for a 4-year-old, AJ’s passion for the game and natural feel for dribbling stand out. For now, he is simply enjoying basketball the way many stars once did, with a ball in his hands and plenty of time to play. Those who want to keep up with his journey can find his highlights on Instagram at @aj_lovetoball.
