LeBron James took an unexpected sip of red wine during Monday night’s game, and it happened on the court. In the third quarter against the Chicago Bulls, with the Philadelphia 76ers leading by 11 points, James chased a loose ball and collided with a fan carrying a cup of red wine, his favorite.
James, who has famously said he drinks a glass of wine a day and partly credits it for his longevity, took the opportunity to sample it. “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 wasn’t starstruck by the moment or 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.”
Sixers Cruise Past Bulls
The Sixers went on to win the game 126-107, improving to 7-1. James finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and nine assists.
James also brought plenty of energy beyond the wine. He danced after an and-one layup that sent guard Tyrese Maxey into hysterical laughter, then danced with Maxey moments later when the point guard scored an and-one of his own. He also passed to teammates in tight windows all night.
On the surface, it appeared to be the most fun James has had since joining Philadelphia. He explained his approach to the season.
“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 James’ First Alcohol Moment
This is not the first time James has had an incident involving alcohol during a game. After missing an and-one layup in Game 1 of the 2017 Eastern Conference semifinals, he playfully grabbed a beer bottle from a vendor’s hand, made a motion as if to take a sip, and handed it back.
The Sixers next play the Detroit Pistons, who handed them their only loss so far, on Wednesday.