Former Hawks Star Stirs Controversy Over LeBron’s Miami Heat Dominance
Jeff Teague just ignited one of the NBA’s most heated conversations, this time off the court.
The former Atlanta Hawks point guard, who faced LeBron James multiple times in the playoffs, recently made a bold accusation during an episode of his Club520 podcast. While discussing LeBron’s legendary prime with the Miami Heat, Teague hinted that James may have used HGH (human growth hormone) during that stretch.
“They started testing for HGH, and he had to sit out. He said his back was hurting and he sat out for three weeks, then came back skinny,” Teague claimed, via @FullCourtPass on X.
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No Proof Yet, Just Bold Accusations
As of now, Teague has provided no evidence to back up his claim. The story stems purely from personal observation and speculation during James’ time with the Heat, a period where he was arguably the most dominant player in basketball.
LeBron led Miami to four straight NBA Finals appearances between 2011 and 2014, winning two titles. His combination of speed, power, agility, and explosiveness was unmatched, prompting many to label him one of the most physically gifted athletes in sports history.
Though LeBron is no longer in his physical prime, the 40-year-old remains one of the NBA’s most effective and athletic veterans. Still, Teague’s comments reignited conversations about how athletes maintain their performance at such elite levels into their late 30s.
Jeff Teague says LeBron James used steroids while being on the Heat
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) July 23, 2025
“They started testing for HGH and he had to sit out. He said his back was hurting and he sat out for 3 weeks then came back skinny.”
(Via @club520podcast, h/t @JesseGladsaget)
pic.twitter.com/8Sd5bgwaXr
To date, no concrete evidence has ever linked James to performance-enhancing drugs. The NBA has a strict drug-testing policy, and James has never failed a test.
Despite that, the timing of Teague’s remarks, combined with swirling offseason rumors about LeBron’s future with the Los Angeles Lakers, adds fuel to the speculative fire.
Whether this accusation is remembered as just another baseless podcast moment or something more serious remains to be seen. For now, the NBA community is watching closely.
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