Lebron James and the disabled Celtics' fan

[Moranis]

You don't always see that, especially against a rival during the game.

http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/index.ssf/2015/12/lebron_james_boy_disabled_nike.html

BOSTON – LeBron James and 16-year-old boy Aaron Miller hadn't previously met, but they already had a bond.

That bond grew exponentially during and immediately after the Cavaliers' 89-77 win over the Boston Celtics Tuesday night.

Miller, of Newton, Mass., is thriving now despite being born with severe brain damage that doctors said would paralyze him. He was honored by the home-team Celtics during a timeout in the second quarter for being named MVP of a Boston-area basketball tournament apparently associated with the Special Olympics.

At the conclusion of the timeout, James ran out of the Cavs' huddle and over to the boy, grabbing him first on the hand and then around the head with affection as Miller smiled and responded in obvious astonishment and adoration.

Consider the bigger picture for a moment. This was the first Cavs-Boston game since all hell broke loose in Game 4 of a first-round playoff series at TD Garden last season.

It was to be filled with more tension, animosity, and physicality than your average NBA regular-season game in December, to say nothing of the possibility of an altercation.

There were no fights. Instead, after James had put the finishing touches on his 24-point, seven-rebound performance, he handed Miller the pair of his signature line Nike shoes he wore on the court.

Now, for the twist: Miller was already wearing a special version of James' shoe line designed for customers with special needs that was released in July.

"I wasn't able to hear the whole story because I was actually in the game and coach was drawing up a play," James said, explaining how he first noticed Miller. "But I looked up at the Jumbotron and I seen what he's been through and where he is now. I think the doctor said he would never walk again, talk again, or something like that. I looked up there and I just, right from there. This game is so much more than just basketball."

And then, James mentioned, he noticed Miller was wearing James' shoes.

The shoe, the LeBron Soldier 8 FLYLEASE is manufactured with a single strap across the top, designed for customers who cannot tie shoes because of a physical disability.

James said Tuesday night he "designed those shoes for kids with conditions where they not able to put their own."

A Nike news release credits designer Tobie Hatfield, who worked with a teenage boy born with Cerebral Palsy to design the shoe with James.

According to the Celtics' public relations department, Miller was born with "severe brain damage that doctors said would physically and mentally paralyze him for life." Miller, who according to the Celtics, "endured thousands of hours of surgery and physical therapy," plays basketball and golf at a Boston-area high school.

Now, he has two pairs of James' signature shoes.

"When I saw that, when I saw his story, it was just like, I don't know, I felt like I was a part of him," James said. "I was just showing him my respect and gave him my shoes. And it was well received by him. It wasn't, it's not for you guys, it's not for the fans. It was for him."

James hosted several suffering children at The Q last summer in conjunction with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

[Celtics18]

I'm going to take the cynical route, and say;  Once again, Lebron is attempting to make every moment about him.

[celts55]

And I really wanted to hate him. Guess he's just a jerk on the court.

[slamtheking]

I'm going to take the cynical route, and say;  Once again, Lebron is attempting to make every moment about him.

the hater in me wants to go along with that but having read the full article, even someone who despises Lebron as much as possible like myself, has to give him some credit for not being a complete jerk

[bdm860]

Pretty cool moment, especially with the kid in a C's jersey.  All I could think about is if this was Paul Pierce:

[slamtheking]

Pretty cool moment, especially with the kid in a C's jersey.  All I could think about is if this was Paul Pierce:

that was an even better move by Pierce though.  The kid doesn't look handicapped and he's wearing a Cavs jersey in the front row of the Garden.  A better move would have been to pick the kid up and drop him outside the arena to let a real C's fan have that seat

[ederson]

you must be joking


A kid is a kid no matter the uniform

[Celtics18]

you must be joking


A kid is a kid no matter the uniform

Yeah, "a kid is a kid" and I don't see any reason for Paul Pierce to high five one wearing a Cavs uniform in that situation.   

[ederson]

you missed half the post

A better move would have been to pick the kid up and drop him outside the arena to let a real C's fan have that seat

[Moranis]

you must be joking


A kid is a kid no matter the uniform

Yeah, "a kid is a kid" and I don't see any reason for Paul Pierce to high five one wearing a Cavs uniform in that situation.   

Come on.  Boston was winding the game down and Pierce had just made a good play.  The kid wanted a high five, Pierce should have given it to him.

[Snakehead]

Knew somehow LeBron could be bashed about this.  First response didn't let me down.

[slamtheking]

you must be joking


A kid is a kid no matter the uniform

Yeah, "a kid is a kid" and I don't see any reason for Paul Pierce to high five one wearing a Cavs uniform in that situation.   

Come on.  Boston was winding the game down and Pierce had just made a good play.  The kid wanted a high five, Pierce should have given it to him.

if the kid wanted a high 5 from a Celtic legend, he should have worn a Celtics jersey instead of a Lebron jersey. 

[slamtheking]

you must be joking


A kid is a kid no matter the uniform

Yeah, "a kid is a kid" and I don't see any reason for Paul Pierce to high five one wearing a Cavs uniform in that situation.   

TP

[Adelaide Celt]

you must be joking


A kid is a kid no matter the uniform

Yeah, "a kid is a kid" and I don't see any reason for Paul Pierce to high five one wearing a Cavs uniform in that situation.   

Come on.  Boston was winding the game down and Pierce had just made a good play.  The kid wanted a high five, Pierce should have given it to him.

if the kid wanted a high 5 from a Celtic legend, he should have worn a Celtics jersey instead of a Lebron jersey.

True this.

[Moranis]

you must be joking


A kid is a kid no matter the uniform

Yeah, "a kid is a kid" and I don't see any reason for Paul Pierce to high five one wearing a Cavs uniform in that situation.   

Come on.  Boston was winding the game down and Pierce had just made a good play.  The kid wanted a high five, Pierce should have given it to him.

if the kid wanted a high 5 from a Celtic legend, he should have worn a Celtics jersey instead of a Lebron jersey.

you know how you convert a fan of Lebron to a fan of Pierce, you don't be a jackass.