Just when you thought that LeBron James couldn’t add more to his legacy, the player proved the expectations wrong. At 39 years of age, the NBA star recently defeated France at the 2024 Paris Olympics to clinch his fourth Olympic gold medal, tying Carmelo Anthony as the second-most decorated basketball veteran from Team USA. As people rejoiced from across the pond, LeBron himself took to the streets of Paris to celebrate. However, in his hurry to make the most of the moment, the player ended up denying a fan a core memory!

In the wee hours after his win against Victor Wembanyama and co, LeBron James was captured heading to a club alongside his wife Savannah. Fans were quick to surround the player’s vehicle, pointing their cameras to capture him as he had the Olympic Gold Medal draped around his neck. As one of them approached the player for a quick selfie, the latter inaudibly dismissed him and proceeded to walk on. The person behind LeBron also slightly pushed the fan aside to make way. The Gold Medallist immediately became a different man after stepping into the club, dancing along to the tunes and sharing embraces with the people inside.

Having been in the NBA for over 21 years now, LeBron James would have gotten accustomed to fans thronging him for an autograph or a quick photo. He has obliged on more than a few occasions, giving them a memory that they will remember for a long time to come. In this situation, however, the player would have been in a hurry to get into party mode. And rightfully so, since the score of 14 points, 6 rebounds, and 10 assists he made under his name helped Team USA in the effort to secure a 98-87 win over France. On top of that, during the six games that he participated in, LeBron record an average score of 14.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 8.5 assists. His overall contribution is the reason why he walked away with the MVP of men’s basketball tournament title at the Paris Olympics. If that isn’t a reason to get into party mode instantly, then what is?

Despite the reasoning, the player blatantly denying the fan a selfie caused an instant uproar on social media. Before long, other fans thronged onto the comments section to share their reaction.

Fans react as LeBron James denies the fan a selfie

One social media user did not have to think hard when choosing how to express his reaction. After all, LeBron denying the selfie, and the fan looking on, was a classic situation of ‘Never meet your heroes’.

Believe it or not, but the NBA world is filled with such instances. Furthermore, hearing “NO” from your favorite player is a disappointment that has not only been faced by just fans. A few years back, longtime American rapper Chamillionaire revealed approaching Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan for a picture. The rapper revealed that not only was he denied the same, the former NBA star put him down in an egregious manner by allegedly stating “Oh, hell, nah, man! I ain’t taking no pictures with no n*****.” Furthermore, Chamillionaire alleged that Jordan put a price on taking the picture by stating “You pay $15,000 right now for a jersey from me, and I’ll take a picture with you.” Yikes!

Another social media user highlighted that what could happen next would better be explained through a pop-culture reference. By highlighting a picture of the main antagonist Syndrome from the Pixar animated film ‘The Incredibles’, he stated that LeBron James denying the picture may very well cause the fan to start establishing his villain arc.

If the fan would go on to do something evil over the snub, he wouldn’t be the first one, surprisingly. Back in June 2024, a fan ended up disclosing LeBron’s live location after he was denied a picture from the four-time champion. The player was out enjoying a meal at a restaurant in New York City, and security stopped the fan from interfering. This caused him to record a video and encourage others to “pull up.” The fan himself ended up receiving negative backlash from others, with some stating that he “needs to be arrested” over this childish behaviour.

Another commentor also believed that the fan in Paris would also go on to follow a villain path. However, instead of doing anything extreme, he might simply change his allegiance from LeBron James to Michael Jordan.

The prowess that LeBron James has displayed on the NBA court has often caused him to be compared with Michael Jordan. The fan bases of both players soon turned this into a heightened debate over who deserves the ‘GOAT’ (Greatest Of All Time) title. The fan would very well be welcome to become a supporter of His Airness now but, as mentioned above, he may also end up denying selfies if his mood does not allow it.

One fan highlighted that the picture snubs go back a long way. In fact, the situation which the fan in Paris faced was the same one that, over two decades ago, was faced by a young Jayson Tatum!

Back in July, the 2024 NBA champion recalled a story from 2009, when he had the opportunity to meet LeBron. The future NBA legend was well in his sixth year with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Tatum, then 11, attended a matchup between the Memphis Grizzles and the Cavaliers. When the opportunity presented itself for him to get an autograph and a picture, he recalled “There was a lot of people back there. He (LeBron) was like, ‘I’m out. I gotta go.’” Tatum couldn’t handle being rejected, as he stated “I got in the car and started crying.” When James found out about this story, he reacted by stating “That’s why you dunked on me in the conference finals.” From being denied an autograph by his hero to winning an Olympic Gold Medal alongside, Jayson Tatum sure has had an interesting journey.

Overall, social media users sympathized with the fan in Paris. To be denied that special moment with a renowned athlete/celebrity is never easy. If he wants, he could very well follow a path to the NBA and then get back at LeBron for denying him a photo, like Jayson Tatum.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.