LeBron James spoke with reporters prior to Sunday’s All-Star Game—his record-setting 20th appearance in the annual event—and he shared a heartwarming moment with one media member in attendance.
The final question of James’s press conference went to USA Today’s NBA reporter Jeff Zillgitt, whom the Los Angeles Lakers star was overjoyed to see in the room.
Zillgitt recently had cancer surgery, per reporter Arash Markazi, and when James saw it was him asking the final question on Sunday, the 39-year-old couldn’t help but express his happiness, clearly excited to see the longtime NBA reporter at All-Star weekend in Indianapolis.
“First of all, it’s f–ing great to see you,” said James, smiling and pointing at Zillgitt. “It’s so great to see you, Jeff. Love this. And the fact that you got the last question is even greater. You tried to hide in the back, I love that as well. Love you man. Wow, it’s great to see you.”
A very cool moment where LeBron James shouts out writer Jeff Zillgitt, who he had previously wished well following cancer surgery. pic.twitter.com/plMCwZGgo9
— Arash Markazi (@ArashMarkazi) February 18, 2024
Back in March of ‘23, James had tweeted at Zillgitt to wish him a speedy recovery without specifically identifying his ailment.
After their heartwarming exchange on Sunday, James gave a thorough answer to the question posed by Zillgitt, offering his opinions on the rise in high-scoring performances across the league of late and crediting the league’s many “great talents.”
