Is LeBron James a NFL aficionado? His past activates certainly seem to indicate so. During the 39-year-old’s busy schedule over the course of the NBA season, he would occasionally boot up his console, play the latest version of Madden for hours, and then share his highlights on social media. From naming his ‘Mt-Rushmore of All-Time NFL Legends’ to recently revealing his Super Bowl 59 Picks, the basketball star keeps his fans updated on his latest viewpoints on the world of American Football. Therefore, if anyone is missing out on the latest Philadelphia Eagles vs Green Bay Packers game, LeBron has got you covered!

Earlier today, as the highly anticipated first matchup between the two NFL franchises commenced, LeBron shared his live reactions through his official X account. By yelling out “OMG SAQUON SO DAMN QUICK/FAST!!!!!!! SO GOOD MAN!”, he was giving out a special shoutout to 27-year-old Saquon Barkley. After all, not everybody is capable of switching around a debut game performance so swiftly.

After having been traded to the Philadelphia Eagles back in March, anticipation was high to witness just how the 2018 Offensive Rookie of the Year would thrive. The initial minutes of his debut did not indicate a good start, as he slipped on the turf upon receiving his first official carry. This played a role in the Eagles turning the football over twice upon receiving the first two possessions. However, things started to change once the second quarter approached. As the offensive advantage was back for the Eagles, Barkley held on to the football and scored his very first touchdown with the team. The same was made possible as Jalen Hurts saw his teammate running down the field and quickly threw over to his direction. Given that LeBron James also shares a good bond with Jalen Hurts, with both being clients of the Klutch Sports Group, this was a double celebration.

The Los Angeles Lakers star’s praise of the running back comes just a few months after he was one of the first celebrities to come to his defense. Back in February, the four-time NBA champion went viral for claiming that “The cars, the jewelry, and all the other dumb sh*t don’t matter”, and that the young kids of today should “Worry about the game and everything will take care of itself.” People were quick to call him out as a ‘hypocrite’ since, being the only active billionaire player in NBA history, LeBron has often been reportedly seen highlighting his wealth through his $23 million worth LA Mansion, a Patek Phillippe watch worth $2.6 million etc. Saquon Barkley did not appreciate these comments. He went on to repost another post defending LeBron by stating “A OG having all this, and also telling young dudes that its not important bc it will all come in due time if you just stay focused & perfect your craft, doesn’t make him a hypocrite, it makes him right.”

By the time the first half concluded, Saquon Barkley has managed to add nine carries for 31 yards to his name, alongside two catches for 23 yards and a single touchdown. While the Packers held a 19-14 lead by the end of the second quarter, the Eagles are slowly gaining on them with 5 minutes remaining in the third quarter. While his general love for NFL will continue to keep him glued to the television, we know that LeBron will also be watching on especially for the new addition to the Barkley. After all, the ‘hypocrite’ defense wasn’t the only occasion when the NFL player chose to pay tribute to the NBA veteran, and the latter certainly remembers one of the first times that he was made to feel important by Barkley.

LeBron James reacted as Saquon Barkley wore Nikes inspired from the NBA player: “That boy so COLD!!!”

Back in January 2023, while he was still with the New York Giants, Saquon Barkley was seen on the field sporting a unique design. The sneakers he was wearing were Nike’s Zoom Generation Cleats, which carried a red and black colorway with the famous logo streaking on the sides of the shoes. This bore quite a resemblance to the ‘LeBron Air Zoom I’, the first signature shoe released under the name of the NBA star after he first signed with them back in 2003. While the shoes were predominantly white on the front and at the bottom, the design of the Nike logo on the black background at the back proved that it was the inspiration behind Barkley’s new shoes.

It didn’t take long for the shoes to catch LeBron’s attention as well. Taking to his official X account, he retweeted the photos of Saquon Barkley wearing and wrote “@saquon! That boy so COLD!!!” after adding a couple of fire emojis and a salute emoji. Barkley may not have forgotten the first Nikes that LeBron gifted him even before he was drafted into the NFL, and that mutual respect led him to don the black and red sneakers on the turf.

No matter whatever ups or downs he will face, we now know that he will have at least one supporter who will continue cheering him on.

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