Being the legend that he is, LeBron James has always had the spotlight turned on him. Lately, he’s been a recurring feature in the headlines of sports news for several reasons. It first started with retirement rumors that he eventually squashed. Suddenly, his eldest son had a terrible health scare in July. And now, his recent visit to the Middle East has fans chirping.
The King was spotted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia this week, and his arrival stirred the pot of rumors. Based on recent events, fans speculated that James visited the Middle Eastern country to work out a ten-figure deal. Athletes such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar Jr. have made blockbuster moves to Saudi for lucrative deals. At one point, even James Harden was rumored to have received a $900 million offer from Saudi.
LeBron James spotted in Saudi Arabia weeks after joking he would play there 👀😳 pic.twitter.com/LLmHaiIB1r
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) September 6, 2023
But it turns out LeBron James isn’t going anywhere just yet. His visit to Riyadh was planned for a basketball clinic that was organized for young children. The Saudi Arabia Basketball Federation at Al-Azem Academy welcomed the Los Angeles Lakers star to guide young basketball aspirants of the country. Similarly, several NBA stars have been conducting basketball camps around the United States and the world.
The President of the Saudi Basketball Federation shared a heartfelt message for LeBron James
Dr. Ghassan Tashkandi, the President of the Saudi Basketball Federation was more than happy to accommodate LeBron James in Riyadh. According to Arab News, he said, “We are incredibly honored to welcome LeBron James to Riyadh today. Seeing the reactions and smiles on the faces of all the players was priceless. His passion for the game and willingness to take time to train with our players is a massive boost for our sport in Saudi.”
Dr. Tashkandi added, “I’ve no doubt his visit today will have created memories for a lifetime for so many Saudi boys and girls who just had their dreams come true. Sports stars are so powerful in helping us inspire, unite, and excite future athletes in Saudi Arabia… and they don’t get bigger than the all-time leading scorer of the NBA.”
Basketball legend LeBron James spotted in #Riyadh, #SaudiArabia. He led a special clinic organized by the Saudi Arabia Basketball Federation.
📷 KSAbasket | X, Arab News pic.twitter.com/DreI9vma2g— People Of Saudi Arabia (@pplofKSA) September 8, 2023
The young children who attended the clinic were stoked to meet LeBron James. He was a massive inspiration to several budding athletes that were present at the clinic. The 4x NBA Champion visit was also to help Saudi promote its plans to lead people to live healthier and more active lifestyles.
Saudi Arabia is also planning to become a hotspot for global sporting events. They previously held the FIBA 3×3 World Cup a few years ago in Jeddah. The country has also had various MMA promotions and athletics tournaments held within its boarders as well.