Let’s go back in time to the year 2021—LeBron James wasn’t just making waves on the court; he was stacking his ownership game like a true mogul. Earlier that year, he and his longtime business partner, Maverick Carter, levelled up by becoming partners in Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the powerhouse behind the Red Sox, Liverpool FC, Roush Fenway Racing, and more. But the King wasn’t done—come November 29, his empire got even bigger when FSG and its crew dropped a cool $900 million to scoop up the Pittsburgh Penguins.

That’s right, the NBA icon was now skating into NHL territory, and the deal was just waiting on that official green light from the league’s Board of Governors. With FSG adding another heavyweight franchise to its trophy case, LeBron’s off-court value was shooting through the roof. Sportico had just pegged the Penguins at $845 million, but James? He was already moving to the next big play. And just when folks thought he was settling into his new NHL venture, the King made a bold move, walking away from a billion-dollar investment to double down on his stance ahead of the playoffs.

LeBron James makes his stance clear!

The Columbus Blue Jackets hit up X on March 19, throwing a little spice into the hockey world when they reposted ESPN’s clip of LeBron James vibing courtside at a Lakers-Nuggets Stadium Series game. But it wasn’t just any clip—King James was rocking an NHL jersey, and nope, not of the Pittsburgh Penguins (aka the team he co-owns). Instead, he pulled up, repping Columbus. ESPN dropped the post saying, “LeBron’s custom Stadium Series jersey @BlueJacketsNHL,” and Columbus had to back their guy, replying, “No debate: LeBron is the (goat).”

So why the love for Columbus? Simple—LeBron may have a stake in the Penguins, but he’s still Ohio through and through. Born and raised in Akron, the man wasn’t about to forget where he came from. So, when the moment called for it, he laced up with Columbus, showing that home will always have a special place in his heart. And well, James has made this stance clear just ahead of the NHL playoffs!

The 2025 NHL playoffs are locked in, and the road to the Stanley Cup is about to get wild. It all kicks off on Saturday, April 19, with teams battling through the rounds until only two remain. Then, the Stanley Cup Finals puck drop is on June 7, and if things go the distance, we could see a Game 7 showdown on June 23—because nothing screams drama like a do-or-die finale! In the U.S., you can catch all the action on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, TNT, and TBS, while our neighbors up north can tune into CBC and Sportsnet. And this is not the first time that LeBron James has worn the NHL jersey to a Lakers game.

King James’ another NHL and basketball crossover!

Back in December 2021, the sports world got a crossover nobody saw coming—LeBron James and Mario Lemieux fused into one epic nickname: LeMagnifique. Before the Lakers took on the Mavericks, King James strutted in, rocking a Pittsburgh Penguins jersey, and the Lakers had the perfect caption for it: LeMagnifique—a mix of LeBron’s name and Lemieux’s legendary moniker. But that wasn’t the only thing that had people talking.

His jersey had a No. 6, sparking some playful locker room chatter in Pittsburgh. Was he repping defenseman John Marino? Marino himself wasn’t so sure, but he was all for it. “That was pretty cool to see… Maybe we can do a jersey swap or something.” His teammate Sam Lafferty wasn’t buying it either but admitted LeBron seemed hyped about it.

Fast forward a few months, and LeBron’s connection to the Penguins got a whole lot deeper. In March 2021, he joined Fenway Sports Group (FSG) as a partner, adding some serious business power to his ever-growing empire. The move gave him ownership stakes in sports giants like the Boston Red Sox, Liverpool FC, and Roush Fenway Racing. Then, just eight months later, FSG went all in on the Penguins, securing a controlling stake and making LeBron a part-owner of the black and gold. Now, he wasn’t just repping the jersey—he was officially in the Penguins’ ownership club, alongside the one and only Mario Lemieux.

And if there’s one thing about Lemieux, he doesn’t just make history—he owns it. The guy dominated the ice for 17 NHL seasons, led the Penguins to back-to-back Stanley Cups in ‘91 and ‘92, and later won three more as an owner. Now, with LeBron in the mix, the Penguins’ legacy just got a fresh coat of GOAT energy. LeMagnifique meets King James? Yeah, that’s LeCool.