LeBron James found an unexpected way to sample the atmosphere during the Philadelphia 76ers’ 126-107 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Monday night: he took a quick sip from a fan’s drink.
The 41-year-old wine enthusiast was pursuing a loose ball at Xfinity Mobile Arena when the play carried him into the baseline seats. James avoided a major crash with the surrounding spectators, although he did collide with Sixers fan Troy Clemons, who was returning to his seat with a dark-colored beverage.
As the game continued behind him, James briefly picked up the spilled drink and sampled it. The beverage was later identified as wine. After quenching his curiosity, he quickly rejoined the action as Philadelphia moved to 7-1 on the season.
Afterwards, ESPN’s Kris Rhim spoke with the Sixers fan.
‘I was walking to my seat with—whatever this beverage is, we won’t say what it is,’ Troy Clemons said as he displayed the replacement drink he had purchased. ‘LeBron crashed into me, grabbed me and said, “My bad.” My drink went everywhere. He took it, basically had a sip, handed it back and ran back onto the court.’
Clemons, however, made it clear that he was not bothered by the unusual interruption.
Wine aficionado LeBron James squeezed in a quick taste during the Philadelphia 76ers’ 126-107 win over the Chicago Bulls on Monday night
The moment earned James a round of applause and barely interrupted his performance, as he finished with 15 points, nine assists and seven rebounds
Troy Clemons initially kept the identity of the drink private before eventually acknowledging that it was wine
‘I’m just happy he’s here,’ Clemons told ESPN. ‘I’m not concerned about the wine getting on me. I appreciate everything the Sixers are doing. I’m here to enjoy myself and have a good time.’
As for the plastic cup James briefly handled, Clemons admitted he did not preserve it as a souvenir. Instead, he threw it away and bought another beverage from the arena concessions.
‘I threw the cup in the trash,’ Clemons told ESPN. ‘There’s nothing wrong with him—I just went and got a fresh drink.’
James later gave reporters his verdict on the red wine after the game.
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‘I crashed into him and spilled some of his wine,’ James said. ‘I wanted to find out whether it was worth it after getting it on my arm and to see how good it was. It was all right.’
The courtside taste test drew cheers from the crowd and did little to disrupt James, who ended the night with 15 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.
Not everyone found the episode amusing. Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy criticized the incident and questioned the message it might send.
‘If anyone else did this, they’d be checked into [Alcoholics Anonymous], but because it’s Bron Bron, SportsCenter will dedicate an hour to it,’ Portnoy wrote on X. ‘Who cares about the example it sets for kids—that you have to be drunk to play sports?’
Portnoy’s critics quickly responded by pointing to the alcohol-fueled humor and party culture that have long featured prominently in Barstool Sports content.
‘Isn’t that basically your entire platform?’ one follower replied.
James continued to enjoy himself on Monday, later celebrating a basket with a playful twerking display
LeBron James celebrates with Adem Bona during the Sixers’ emphatic win over the Bulls
James wasn’t done having fun on Monday. Later he was seen twerking after hitting a basket and drawing a foul.
Some fans were quick to connect the two moments.
‘He definitely playing drunk,’ one fan joked.
James isn’t the first athlete to consume concessions during a game. Detroit Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder was caught stealing some nachos from a fan after missing a foul ball in 2013.
More famously, then-Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens celebrated a touchdown in 2007 by pouring a fan’s box of popcorn all over his mouth and face. That moment has since been turned into a popular GIF.