Diego Maradona Became a Lebron James Fan Despite Watching Him Lose

Brush Stroke By: Debadrita Ghosh Image credit: NBA and Twitter

[{"selector":"#anim-2c00a98a-6c52-4b3f-812b-aac9606eb587 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(20.05689202720974%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-82302ee8-1253-4f60-87fa-2117bb81125c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-52d5b8bf-dfb1-4235-be2f-0e2d7d7e0f6f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-149.54545%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2e28f03b-4062-4461-b133-539738231d0c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":900,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b350305b-30b2-4d36-ac75-532ced845b58","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3ab819a6-3b3f-45e5-816e-4b557c71a4a0","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-118.79194%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Diego Maradona, the soccer legend who passed away 2 years ago was a huge NBA fan. Once he had a favourite moment while watching NBA which he recalled many a time.

[{"selector":"#anim-7bbef818-990a-4c9e-94d3-e0036df35d59 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.44831694394522%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1d45c305-ca4c-495e-9d94-e46c4ff26c01","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] In the 2017 NBA finals, the clash between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors was a memorable one. Diego Maradona excitedly watched the battle between LeBron James and Kevin Durant.

[{"selector":"#anim-b60591e2-4d07-445e-9c88-164635aca534 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(4.9002399301462125%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9e1a001f-ad96-42ad-b3bd-bdfa4800dd39","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eba39828-a0ab-44eb-9a40-932a95828c95","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.78947%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] It was shocking that instead of watching Michael Jordan, his eyes were fixed on LeBron James.

[{"selector":"#anim-f41ce85e-9b5e-4eff-8852-ddc06ec1f372 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(35.2812499106872%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-213b97d2-d9c7-407f-b259-7778a2d1edf1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Diego Maradona was awestruck when LeBron James and Kevin Durant hugged at the end of the match. It was something that everyone must have missed but he liked it the most.

[{"selector":"#anim-6fa0f40d-415e-4f32-8573-0cc264179c83 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-4.947366700045073%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-33b2ce79-7dd7-4a14-a121-e1e0590a1889","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a44b09d3-346e-4437-b2e4-2c14d02a6120","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.92356%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Maradona said, “The guy [LeBron] lost the ring, the rival was coming out (a) champion, and as a gentleman he went and hugged Durant like he was a brother, that stuck in my head”.

[{"selector":"#anim-bf257a44-50f8-41a6-90b0-5d9ace7c3a3c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-33.96033643327238%, 0, 0)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9d419b34-8b0a-4aef-9ef5-012747f36f85","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Maradona carefully observed the anguish and agony in James' eyes during the match, yet he congratulated and hugged his rival. This appeared praiseworthy to him because it is a quality that a champion possesses.

[{"selector":"#anim-00e22bcc-4590-4724-8f47-410ff5ebd1a6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-14.557960763608499%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ea5ef6fc-82b1-4e87-af2d-7ab0aa2149c1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Diego himself failed at winning in the 1990 World Cup finals. He knew that the strongest winners lose several times before they succeed.

[{"selector":"#anim-5a1bed15-6b91-4546-bfef-3186c9083d74 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-17.91749021097403%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":1000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-187316d5-d1ac-4e48-8582-991631cc15fc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cbe80b58-b820-44c5-b9d4-2680dc2d5fb8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-149.0909%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":1600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-971e321e-361c-4d49-8afd-20a1aa190413","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":900,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5bce1580-f3cf-4c31-a6d7-8f219dddc0b3","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4c221a35-09da-4f67-a4ce-86d621436c5c","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-121.03449%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":600,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Since then, Lebron James had won another title with the Lakers. He became one of the rarest players to win NBA titles with 3 different teams.

Diego Maradona Became a Lebron James Fan Despite Watching Him Lose

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