LeBron James provided an unexpected moment during the Philadelphia 76ers’ 126-107 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Monday night after stopping to take a sip from a spectator’s drink while chasing a loose ball.
The 41-year-old Los Angeles Lakers star ended up among spectators near the baseline at Xfinity Mobile Arena while attempting to keep the ball in play.
Although he avoided a full-speed collision with the crowd, James made contact with a Sixers supporter who was carrying a drink back to his seat.
After bumping into the fan, James apologised before briefly taking the spectator’s cup and drinking from it. He then handed it back and returned to the game as play continued.
The beverage was initially left unidentified, but the fan later revealed that it was wine.
Sixers Supporter Explains How James Took His Drink
Speaking to ESPN reporter Kris Rhim after the incident, the supporter, identified as Troy Clemons, described how the encounter unfolded.
Clemons said he had been walking back to his seat with his drink when James collided with him.
According to the fan, the basketball star apologised, took a sip from his cup and immediately returned to the court.
He initially avoided identifying the beverage, referring to it only as a drink while holding up a replacement he had purchased.
Clemons said he was not bothered by what happened and expressed appreciation for having James at the arena.
“I’m just glad for him to be here,” he told ESPN, adding that he was not concerned about the drink spilling on him and had come to enjoy the game.
Fan Throws Away Cup After the Encounter
Clemons also revealed that he did not keep the plastic cup after James drank from it, despite the possibility that it could have become a memorable souvenir.
Instead, he said he threw it into the rubbish bin and returned to the arena’s concessions stand to purchase another drink.
“I threw that cup in the trash,” Clemons said, explaining that he had simply gone to get himself a fresh drink.
The incident attracted applause from some spectators, while James appeared to continue playing without any interruption.
James Records 15 Points in Sixers Victory
The unusual encounter did little to distract James from his performance against the Bulls.
He finished the game with 15 points, nine assists and seven rebounds as Philadelphia secured a 126-107 victory over Chicago.
The Sixers improved their season record to 7-1 with the result.
James also had another moment that attracted attention later in the game when he was seen twerking after scoring a basket and drawing a foul.
Some supporters connected the two incidents, with one joking on social media that the basketball star was playing under the influence.
Dave Portnoy Criticises James Over Wine Incident
Not everyone welcomed James’ decision to drink from a spectator’s cup during the game.
Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy criticised the incident in a post on X, questioning the reaction it would have received if another player had behaved similarly.
“If anybody else did this they’d be checked into [Alcoholics Anonymous] but because it’s Bron Bron Sportcenter will do an hour special on it,” Portnoy wrote.
He also questioned the example the moment could set for younger basketball fans, asking whether it suggested that players needed to be drunk to participate in sports.
However, several people responding to Portnoy pointed to Barstool Sports’ own history of alcohol-related content and drinking culture.
One follower challenged his criticism by asking whether drinking was not already a major part of the platform‘s identity.
James Joins List of Athletes Who Have Taken Food From Fans
James is not the first professional athlete to grab refreshments from spectators during a sporting event.
In 2013, Detroit Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder was caught taking nachos from a fan after missing a foul ball during a game.
Another widely remembered incident involved former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens, who celebrated a touchdown in 2007 by pouring a fan’s box of popcorn over his mouth and face.
The celebration subsequently became a popular GIF shared across social media.
