Stephen A.: ‘We devour surely no longer viewed LeBron James as a third likelihood’ (2:08)
Stephen A. Smith says LeBron James deserves credit rating for his management on the Lakers and embracing the alternate to his fair. (2:08)
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Kalan HooksMar 25, 2026, 02:53 PM ET
LeBron James has been the topic of many memes by the years, and now we know the memoir within the aid of one of them.
Earlier than the Los Angeles Lakers‘ March 19 toll road matchup against the Miami Heat, James arrived at the Kaseya Center in a warmth-climate dresser: shorts, a button-down immediate-sleeve shirt and a bucket hat.
Despite James’ drip, followers noticed one merchandise that stuck out in his arrival — he turned into carrying a vinyl of rapper J. Cole’s most fresh album, “The Fall-Off,” in his pretty hand. Nonetheless, it wasn’t for looks to be.
On Carmelo Anthony’s most fresh “7PM in Brooklyn” podcast, the rapper, whose precise title is Jermaine Cole, explained why the Lakers smartly-known particular person had brought his album.
“On his way, he had The Fall-Off vinyl — he brought it so I could sign it,” Cole said.
J. Cole explains the backstory within the aid of Bron carrying the ‘Tumble Off’ vinyl 👀 pic.twitter.com/clWdiUbWzd
— 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn) March 24, 2026
The North Carolina-raised rapper said he reached out to James due to he might maybe presumably maybe be in attendance at the Lakers’ toll road game against Miami and wanted the 22-365 days NBA vet to meet his adolescents. J. Cole also said the Lakers smartly-known particular person is his oldest son’s favorite player.
“My oldest [is] getting into basketball, Bron is his No. 1, and I hit Bron and he graciously said he would do it,” Cole said.
While Cole and his adolescents witnessed the Lakers beat the Heat 134-126 within the aid of Luka Doncic‘s 60-level efficiency and James’ 19 factors, 15 rebounds and 10 assists, he expressed his pleasure about James assembly his adolescents, which hit deeper as a celeb.
“This man was doing me a solid. … Bro, that s— was the craziest feeling like to see your kids like meet a superhero — that was my first time ever doing some s— like that,” Cole said.
“And it made me appreciate all the times that there was a father or something that had their kid and I get to sign … or autograph or take a picture. I like ‘Oh my god.’ I hear the father in my mind, ‘Man, I really appreciate this bro, thank you.’ But now that I’ve been through it, I’m like, ‘Oh, I know what he meant now.’ … You gave my son a lifelong memory, so shoutout to Bron for that.”
Cole’s “The Fall-Off” is his seventh studio album. The 24-tune album turned into launched on Feb. 6, featuring artists similar to Future, Tems, Erykah Badu and more.
James is currently averaging 21 factors, 5.9 rebounds and 6.9 assists within the 2025-26 traditional season.
