LeBron James made headlines for an unusual but highly publicized appearance, skipping the Los Angeles Lakers‘ first practice of the season to participate in Kai Cenat‘s viral 24/7 livestream event, “Mafiathon 3.”
The NBA superstar’s appearance included gifts, camaraderie, and a surprising personal gesture for Cenat as the four-time champion appeared in the final hours of the content creator’s month-long stream.
strong>LeBron James and his daughter, Zhuri James, arrived at the Los Angeles mansion where the marathon event was taking place, as the appearance quickly became a viral moment.
James presented Cenat with a Lakers-themed Audemars Piguet watch, celebrating the streamer reaching a historic milestone in followers, and in addition to the luxury watch, James gifted Cenat and his crew an exclusive pair of unreleased LeBron XXIII sneakers, set to release next month.
The superstar also joined Cenat on a tour of the mansion and participated in a casual basketball session on the backyard court.
The livestream included other notable figures, such as Kim Kardashian and her son, Saint West, adding to the star-studded atmosphere. The highlight of the visit, however, was James personally giving Cenat a haircut, removing his signature dreadlocks live on stream.
The livestream captioned the moment, cementing it as one of the most memorable segments of “Mafiathon 3.”
LeBron misses opening practice for unfortunate reason
Following the high-profile appearance, LeBron James was absent from the Los Angeles Lakers’ first official training camp practice of the season due to minor irritation in his glute.
The 40-year-old forward is on track to potentially become the first player in NBA history to compete in 23 seasons when the Lakers open the regular season on October 21 against the Golden State Warriors.
“James has a little bit of nerve irritation in the glute,” Lakers head coach JJ Redick explained after the workout at the team’s training complex.
Redick emphasized that the team is taking a careful approach to managing James’ workload to prevent injuries and fatigue, particularly during the grueling early stages of training camp.
Although James may still participate in preseason activities, Redick reiterated that the organization is “playing the long game with LeBron” to ensure he remains at peak performance.
Last season, James averaged 24.4 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds while appearing in 70 games and earning All-NBA Second Team honors. Maintaining health and readiness for the playoffs is a top priority for the Lakers‘ staff as they enter the new campaign.
The combination of LeBron James‘s celebrity appearance at “Mafiathon 3” and his careful preseason management highlights both his cultural influence off the court and his continuing commitment to on-court excellence.
Fans eagerly anticipate the Lakers‘ season opener, watching closely to see how James balances his iconic career milestones with personal and promotional engagements.
Read the full article here
