As the Minnesota Grizzlies take on the Los Angeles Lakers, young Grizzlies star Desmond Bane faced a little bit of an embarrassing situation: having to wear LeBron James’ signature shoe on the court against the superstar. It’s an unwritten rule in the NBA that players don’t wear signature shoes against that athlete, but due to some foot pain, Bane had to do it.
Desmond Bane has been playing through pain in his foot all season, and the LeBron XX was the only shoe that worked for him. He wasn’t really happy about that development.
“Nah. I mean, nah, I [wasn’t],” Bane told ESPN. “But you know, I got to leave my pride to the side and do what’s best for my body and my career.”
But when Bane first wore the shoes on the court against James, he said the Lakers’ star had a kind gesture.
“He asked me if I had enough of ’em,” Bane said, “if I needed any more.”
James later revealed that his offer was genuine and that he no longer worries about players wearing his signature shoe against him.
“Respect. Respect,” James told ESPN. “I joked about it a few years ago, like, if a guy’s wearing my sneakers I’m going to have to bust your [butt] and [stuff]. Like, I’m not even in that type of energy no more, that type of space. I just think that’s super dope. And I got to send some more to him now.
“I got to make sure he’s a LeBron athlete now.”
[ESPN]
