LeBron James has been known as a big supporter of Ohio State, but he also reps his hometown of Akron hard, and will be doing so when the Zips take on the Buckeyes in the first round of the NIT, which tips off Tuesday night. From Cleveland.com:
“Obviously I’m torn,” James said late Monday night, after the Cavs lost to Utah, 94-85. “You know, being a huge supporter of Ohio State, but I’m also a big supporter of my high school coach in Keith Dambrot.
“He (Dambrot) helped shaped me into who I am today as a basketball player, and it’s where I’m from, so I’m going with the Zips for sure.”
Ohio State was the first school to be included in James’ Nike signature program in 2007 and that deal comes with James having his own locker in the Buckeyes locker room. More recently, he made a video in support of the Buckeyes football team in a bet with Draymond Green, who attended Michigan State.
James was also spotted at the 2014 College Football Playoff National Championship decked out in Buckeye gear, and he’s never been a stranger in supporting Buckeye football on Twitter:
The fact Braxton at WR is so dope!! Well u can play him anywhere on offense. #GoBucks
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 8, 2015
That boi Jalin Marshall going HAM today!! Way to go lil homie. #GoBucks #OH
— LeBron James (@KingJames) November 22, 2014
But that’s not to say he doesn’t have love for the Zips. James has a partnership with the school, which renamed their school of education after him, along with providing scholarships to those who graduate from his mentoring program. That relationship will start in 2021.
James’ first coach at St. Vincent-St. Mary high school was Keith Dambrot, who has been at Akron since 2001, and became their head coach in 2004. James is also currently a Bath Township resident, a suburb of Akron.
The game between the Buckeyes and the Zips should be a good one, but perhaps the support of the King will be enough to push the Zips over the top.
