NBA star LeBron James has hailed the Highlands in a new video (Image: John Walton/PA)
NBA star LeBron James has hailed the Highlands in a new video (Image: John Walton/PA)
NBA star LeBron James has hailed Scotland as “God’s country” following a visit to the Highlands for a golf trip with some of his former teammates.
The 41-year-old, regarded as one of America’s greatest-ever sportsmen, hailed the country’s beauty in his debut video for his new golf YouTube channel.
The NBA’s all-time leading scorer visited Castle Stuart Golf Links at Cabot Highlands in Inverness and stayed at the 400-year-old Aldourie Castle on the shores of Loch Ness in June.
James was joined by some of his former Cleveland Cavaliers teammates, including J.R. Smith and Richard Jefferson, to mark the 10th anniversary of the team’s 2016 championship victory.
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The Philadelphia 76ers player, who just ended an eight-year stint with the Los Angeles Lakers, shared footage of the group playing golf and dining together at the castle for his debut video on his new YouTube channel, which will see him visit some of the world’s best courses.
James said in the video: “To be able to reunite with these guys and do a trip like this means everything to me and I know it means everything to the guys.
“I mean this is a beautiful place. It feels like God’s country out here when you look around.
“I understand that golf is the overhead and the hub of this thing, but this brotherhood and this friendship we have, I don’t take it for granted.
“It’s pretty special having my guys around and being able to experience something like this here in Scotland, so I hope you all enjoy it too.”
Kevin Love, Tristan Thompson and Channing Frye also joined James on the trip to the Highlands.
During their stay, the group used Aldourie Castle, the only habitable castle on the shores of Loch Ness, as their hub for their holiday.
Designed in the Baronial architectural style and set in a 500-acre private estate, prices for a stay at the castle start from £33,000 per night including catering.
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The castle is owned by Scotland’s richest man, Anders Holch Povlsen, who bought the business in 2015 for £15 million.
James, who has more than 154m followers on Instagram, has won four NBA championships from his 10 finals appearances. He has also won three Olympic gold medals.