Denzel Washington created an unforgettable moment on the court Thursday night when he left his seat and walked across the court to greet LeBron James just before the Los Angeles Lakers took on the Philadelphia 76ers at Crypto.com Arena.
As teams prepared to be briefed, video captured from the stands showed the Oscar winner rising from his courtside seat and walking along the edge of the hardwood to reach James.
The Lakers star noticed immediately, smiled and shared a warm hug.
Washington appeared to wish him luck before calmly returning to his seat, attracting the attention of nearby fans.
The gesture came moments before the Lakers posted a 119-115 victory.
James played a key role in the victory, finishing with 17 points, four rebounds, 10 assists and a block. It was another consistent performance in what has been a much-discussed season for the NBA veteran.
Washington, a longtime Lakers fan, is a regular at games, so the two have crossed paths before.
Still, the timing and spontaneity of the moment made it stand out, especially with James leading his team through a tight contest soon after.
James is currently entering his 23rd consecutive NBA season after suffering from sciatica and was recently named to his 22nd consecutive All-Star selection as a reserve.
After missing last year’s game due to injury, he said the recognition still holds deep meaning for him, regardless of outside debate.
“The coaches voted, it’s true, it’s a huge respect for the coaches and for them to see the way I’m still playing at this final stage of my career,” James said.
“And to be able to be an All-Star means a lot to my family, the people who have followed my career, my LeBron fans. They’ve followed my journey and it’s always gratifying, from a humble point of view, to be able to be rewarded for what you’ve put your work into.”
The season did not go smoothly off the field.
Recent rumors suggested Lakers governor Jeanie Buss was considering trading James as their relationship cooled, with speculation linking him to a possible move to the Los Angeles Clippers.
Buss publicly dismissed the reports and opposed the narrative surrounding James.
“It’s really not right, given all the great things LeBron has done for the Lakers, that he has to be involved in my family drama,” Buss said. “To say it wasn’t appreciated is simply wrong and completely unfair to him.”
In this context, Washington’s simple show of support seemed significant.
For fans watching from the stands and online, the brief embrace was a reminder of James’ stature not just in basketball, but in sports and culture, and perhaps explained why his seats on the court continue to put him at the heart of moments like this.
