LeBron James, Michael Jordan.Photo: Slaven Vlasic/Getty; Streeter Lecka/Getty
LeBron Jamescouldn’t believe it when he met NBA legendMichael Jordanfor the first time.
“When I met Michael Jordan for the first time, I literally couldn’t believe it was him. The dude looked like Jesus Christ to me. He was Black Jesus to me,” James said on the show.
The Lakers star explained that he was in Chicago withMaverick Carter, James' close friend and manager since 2006 when he met his basketball hero.
“Nobody told me that Mike lifted before he played,” James recalled, adding that as a high school sophomore, he didn’t know “anything about lifting” at the time. “We walk up there, and the first person I see isCharles Oakley.”
James said he first “dapped up” Oakley, a fellow Cleveland native who was known for his stellar play with the New York Knicks during his 19 years in the NBA. “Then Oak moved, and when he moves, Mike is sitting on the bench press,” he continued.
James obviously went on to become a superstar just like Jordan — hebecame the NBA’s all-time leading scorer last February— after meeting the Bulls legend.
James remained such a fan of Jordan’s throughoutThe Last Dancesubject’s playing career that he cried when Jordan announced his retirement in 1993. Jordan would return to the league in 1995, but a young James was still left emotional at the thought of Jordan’s departure.
LeBron James, Michael Jordan.Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images
The HBO documentary dove into one of the most significant points of Jordan’s life — when he announced his sudden retirement from the NBA following themurder of his father, James Jordan, in 1993. The revelation came just a short time after the star won his third straight championship with the Bulls.
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While watching the series, James shared how emotional the moment was for him in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“Definitely cried this day. 9 years of age,” James, 35,tweetedon Sunday night during the broadcast. “Just Couldn’t believe it.”
source: people.com
