LeBron James took an unscheduled sip of red wine from a fan during the Philadelphia 76ers’ win over the Chicago Bulls on Monday night, a moment that has become the talking point of the game.
In the third quarter, with the 76ers leading by 11 points, James chased a loose ball and collided with a fan carrying a cup of red wine, his favourite. James then sampled it.
“I wanted to see if it was worth it on my arm, how good it was. It was all right,” James said with a smile.
The fan, Troy Clemons, is a longtime Sixers season-ticket holder who grew up with Julius Erving’s sons. Clemons said he was neither starstruck nor upset that James took the sip.
“I’m just glad for him to be here,” Clemons said. “I’m not worried about the wine getting on me.”
A Playful Night on the Court
The 76ers went on to win 126-107, improving to 7-1. James finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and nine assists, fuelled by the wine break, as he danced after an and-one layup that sent guard Tyrese Maxey into fits of laughter. He later danced with Maxey again after the point guard completed an and-one of his own, and he threaded passes to teammates through tight windows all night.
On the surface, it appeared to be the most fun James has had since joining Philadelphia.
Finding Joy in the Grind
James explained that the lighthearted moments matter over a demanding season.
“Listen, it’s a long marathon. If you don’t find ways to have fun throughout it, even though you’re working, even though you’re locked in, then it could wear on you,” he said. “So for me, especially at this point in my career too, being able to just appreciate the moments, the small moments.
“These fans are great to us. We try to be great to them as well by playing the game the right way, playing the game hard, and then also just being a showman as well. But it was a great game for us.”
A Familiar Habit
This is not the first time James has had an alcohol-related moment during a game. After missing an and-one layup in Game 1 of the 2017 Eastern Conference semifinals, he playfully grabbed a beer bottle from a vendor’s hand, mimed a sip and handed it back.
The 76ers next face the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, the side that handed them their only loss so far this season.