LeBron James took an unexpected sip of red wine during a game on Monday night after colliding with a fan who was carrying a cup of it, a moment that added some levity to the Philadelphia 76ers’ 126-107 win over the Chicago Bulls.
In the third quarter, with the Sixers leading by 11 points, James chased a loose ball and ran into the fan, who was holding a cup of red wine, James’ favorite. James then 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 and was not 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.”
James finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and nine assists as the Sixers improved to 7-1. He also danced after an and-one layup that sent guard Tyrese Maxey into hysterical laughter, danced with Maxey again when the point guard scored an and-one of his own, and passed to teammates in tight windows all night.
A Lighthearted Night in Philadelphia
James said the fun is part of maintaining his energy over a long 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.”
He also praised the home crowd. “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 was not the first alcohol-related moment of James’ career during a game. In Game 1 of the 2017 Eastern Conference semifinals, after missing an and-one layup, 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 on Wednesday. Detroit handed Philadelphia its only loss so far this season.