If you watched the Los Angeles Lakers‘ game against the Portland Trail Blazers tonight then you must’ve noticed something unusual. LeBron James, who dropped 40 points tonight, was seen hugging a server employed by the Blazers before the game began. But she wasn’t just some random person. There’s history there. The woman who LeBron hugged was Katy Stevens, a longtime server for the Blazers. But this is not her first run-in with the GOAT! Back in 2022, in the 3rd quarter of the game against Portland after missing a three-point attempt, LeBron James backed up on defense without looking behind.

This decision would prove disastrous after he accidentally backed up into Katy, who was serving some patrons sitting courtside. Katy ended up falling forward and only avoided falling on her face because a few of the spectators held her up. But LeBron instantly knew he’d messed up.

He immediately turned towards Katy and helped her get off the floor. He then hugged her and asked if she was okay. After confirming that she was fine, LeBron carried on playing. Katy could not believe that it was James who bumped into her. “And I turn around and he picked me up and I said to myself, ‘That is not a referee, holy smokes, that is Lebron James!’,” she said.

Stevens then threw her arms into the air, almost celebrating as she went back to her colleagues. We’d wager some of her euphoria in that moment was down to getting a hug from the 4x NBA Champion. And we can all relate to that, can’t we?

But this isn’t the first time something like this has happened to Katy. So let’s look at what working courtside for the Blazers has been like for her.

Who is the Portland Trail Blazers’ waitress that LeBron James pushed in 2019? 

Katy Stevens claims she loves to be in the thick of it during basketball games. Her love for the game goes back to being a Bulls fan in the 90s. And it’s this love that led her to apply for a job as a server for the Portland Trail Blazers. After getting a full-time role for them, she convinced her bosses to let her work sections 112-113, aka, courtside. We told you she loves being right next to the action. But she’s developed a weird knack during her time as a courtside server.

We told you how LeBron bumped into Katy earlier. But that’s not the only time this happened! After all, lightning doesn’t strike in the same place twice. But no one said anything about people. A few months after LeBron accidentally bumped into her, this time it was referee Mitchell Ervin who backed into Stevens. This happened during a game against the New Orleans Pelicans and this time, Katy ended up spilling the tray in her hands, soaking the audience members in front of her. “I need to get off this court,” is what Stevens apparently told herself after this incident. The announcers dubbed this incident “Margaritaville,” referencing the spilled drinks.

But clearly, Katy’s bad at taking her own advice. That’s because the same thing happened for the third time. Josh Richardson, who played for the San Antonio Spurs at the time emerged as the culprit responsible. And unlike the last two times this happened, Richardson almost tackled Stevens, which nearly caused one of her colleagues, Stacy, to fall as well.

However, while Stacy came out unscathed, only dropping her tray, Stevens fell face-first onto the floor. “You have got to be kidding me,” was Katy’s first thought after she realized what had happened. All these incidents have led to her colleagues giving her a new nickname, “the Magnet.” Her manager, Janelle Adams, has come up with a protocol in case this happens again. “My first thought is, ‘is she okay?’” Adams said. “Pull her off the floor. Get her some water. Check her out. ‘Are you good? Do you want me to follow you?’,” she finished.

Someone needs to get Katy Stevens off the courtside and relocate her somewhere safer. However, knowing how Stevens is, she’s likely to wear a helmet to work before she considers serving another section. She said it herself, “My co-workers and my friends outside of work have joked that I need to start wearing a helmet and a body suit.” Never change, Katy Stevens. We just hope no one else bumps into you moving forward!