Jayson Tatum and LeBron James are now teammates on Team USA, but there was a time when both met during a game in Memphis back 15 years ago.
That is to say, Tatum recalled a story when he was 11 years old, and LeBron (24 at the time), apparently told him no when JT asked for a signature after a Cleveland Cavaliers and Memphis Grizzlies game.
"[LeBron] ain't tell me no but, he kinda told me no," Tatum said. "In Memphis a long time ago, Larry Hughes was my dad's best friend, they played on the Cavs together. My mom took me to a game in Memphis, I wanted to meet LeBron, and I wanted to get a picture with him and an autograph. There were a lot of people back there, and he was like, 'I'm out, I gotta go.' And I got in the car and started crying."
JT got his revenge on LeBron 😂 #USABMNT pic.twitter.com/9shcJ87uaM
— NBA (@NBA) July 16, 2024
LeBron had a hilarious response to this, as he asked Tatum, "Is that why you dunked on me?"
5 YEARS AGO TODAY!
Rookie Jayson Tatum’s poster dunk & celebration bump on LeBron pic.twitter.com/6biaQBWdKm— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) May 27, 2023
Tatum set the record straight, "But we cool now," as he seemingly got his revenge back in 2018 during Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals when he as a 21 year old rookie posterized LeBron, who is known for not getting dunked on too often.
Tatum and LeBron are now in Dubai, as they are playing a few exhibition games before heading to Paris, France for the Olympics, in hopes of winning gold together; the first official game will start July 28 when Team USA takes on Nikola Jokic and the rest of Team Serbia.
Related: Celtics' Jaylen Brown Take In Game With Angel Reese, Caught Saying 'I Don't Think Bronny Is A Pro'
