LeBron James took an unscheduled sip of red wine during Monday night’s game against the Chicago Bulls, after a collision with a fan who was carrying a cup of his favourite drink.
In the third quarter, with the Philadelphia 76ers leading by 11 points, James chased a loose ball and crashed into the fan, who was holding the wine. James, who has said he drinks a glass of wine a day and partly credits it for his longevity, took a sip.
“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 not starstruck by the moment, nor was he 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 fun night in Philadelphia
The 76ers went on to win the game 126-107, improving to 7-1. James finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and nine assists.
Beyond the wine, James danced after an and-one layup that sent guard Tyrese Maxey into fits of laughter. He danced with Maxey again moments later, when the point guard converted an and-one of his own. He also passed to teammates through tight windows all night.
On the surface, it appeared to be the most fun James has had since joining the team in Philadelphia.
“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.”
Not the first time
This is not the first time James has had an alcohol-related moment during a game. In Game 1 of the 2017 Eastern Conference semifinals, he missed an and-one layup. He then playfully grabbed a beer bottle from a vendor’s hand, made a motion as if to take a sip, and handed it back.
The 76ers play the Detroit Pistons next on Wednesday. Detroit handed Philadelphia its only loss so far this season.