Tiafoe & LeBron James Meeting A Slam Dunk
Frances Tiafoe has long admired NBA legend LeBron James, who has supported 'Big Foe' from afar. That made their meeting on Sunday evening a Slam Dunk.
During warmups for the game between Tiafoe’s hometown Washington Wizards and James’ Los Angeles Lakers, James visited Tiafoe courtside, where they shared a quick embrace.
“Nothing but love OG,” Tiafoe wrote on Instagram.
It was a special moment for Tiafoe, who was thrilled to have the all-time great’s support during the US Open. After the 24-year-old upset Rafael Nadal en route to the semi-finals, James tweeted his congratulations.
CONGRATS Young King!!! You earned it! @FTiafoe ????????✊???????????? https://t.co/QQ0Jn7Lotp
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 5, 2022
“Man, I was losing it in the locker room. Bro, I was going crazy,” Tiafoe said at the time. “That's my guy. So to see him post that, I was like, ‘Do I retweet it as soon as he sent it?’ I was like, ‘You know what, I'm going to be cool and act like I didn't see it and then retweet it three hours later.’"
It has been a basketball-filled offseason for Tiafoe. Last week, the American spent time in New York, where he visited the NBA offices and met Commissioner Adam Silver. He also took in the Wizards’ game against the Brooklyn Nets. The No. 19 player in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings joked on social media he would be entering the next NBA Draft.
Editor's Note: In the featured image for this story, Tiafoe wears a LeBron James Lakers jersey while shooting hoops at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC in Acapulco. Since that image was taken, James switched jersey numbers from No. 23 to No. 6. Photo Credit: ImagenShop/Mextenis.