Denzel Washington created an unforgettable moment on the court Thursday night when he left his seat and crossed the court to greet LeBron James just before the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Philadelphia 76ers at Crypto.com Arena.
As the teams prepared for kickoff, video captured from the stands showed the Oscar-winning actor rising from his courtside seat and walking along the edge of the court to reach James.
The Lakers star noticed him immediately, smiled and gave him a warm hug.
Washington appeared to wish him luck before calmly returning to his seat, drawing the attention of nearby fans.
The gesture came moments before the Lakers earned a 119-115 victory.
James played a key role in the victory, finishing with 17 points, four rebounds, 10 assists and a block. It was another consistent performance in what has been a much-discussed season for the NBA veteran.
Washington, a lifelong Lakers supporter, is a regular presence at games, so the two have crossed paths before.
Still, the timing and spontaneity of the moment made it stand out, especially with James leading his team in a close contest soon after.
James is currently undergoing his 23rd consecutive NBA season after dealing with sciatica, and was recently named to his 22nd consecutive All-Star selection as a reserve.
After missing last year’s game due to injury, he said the recognition still has deep meaning to him, regardless of the external debate.
“The coaches voted, right, with a lot of respect for the coaches and for them to see the way I continue to play in this last stage of my career,” James said.
“And being able to be an All-Star means a lot to my family, the people who have followed my career, my LeBron fans. They’ve been following my journey and it’s always gratifying, from a humble standpoint, to be able to be rewarded for what you put your work into.”
The season has not been without noises off the field.
Recent rumors suggested that Lakers manager Jeanie Buss was considering trading James amid claims their relationship had cooled, with speculation linking him with a possible move to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Buss publicly dismissed the reports and rejected the narrative surrounding James.
“It’s really not right, given all the great things LeBron has done for the Lakers, that he has to be dragged into my family drama,” Buss said. “To say he was unappreciated is simply not true and is completely unfair to him.”
In that context, Washington’s simple show of support seemed significant.
For fans watching from the stands and online, the brief hug served as a reminder of James’ stature not just in basketball, but in all of sports and culture, and perhaps explained why his courtside seats continue to put him at the center of moments like this.
