The enterprising Saudis are now turning their sights to basketball after bringing football superstars like Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo, Phil Mickelson and Dustin Johnson to the country. NBA legend LeBron James has been spotted in Riyadh. He was escorted to a stadium with banners reading “Welcome to Arabia” and “Ministry of Sports.” Not long ago, LeBron joked about signing a one-year contract to play in Saudi Arabia in a tweet he shared in July.
I traveled to Saudi Arabia when they called @RichPaul4 & @mavkat 1 year contract! ✌🏾🤷🏾♂️😁 pic.twitter.com/IX0VSMZYNb
— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 25, 2023
“When they called @RichPaul4 and @mavcarter to sign a one-year deal, I went to Saudi Arabia!” This explains why the sighting sent fans into a frenzy, as the man who plays for Al Hilal reportedly A two-year, $1 billion contract sounds like an opportunity too good to pass up. Some sources clarified that the Saudi Arabian Sports Ministry invited the Los Angeles Lakers superstar to the country for a visit. friendly match at AZM Academy.
Dr. Ghassan Tashkundi, President of the Saudi Basketball Association, said: “We are honored to welcome LeBron James to Saudi Arabia today. We are all delighted to see the reactions and smiles on the players’ faces as they walk into the hall. . “I would like to thank him for the passion he shows in training and for taking the time to inspire the next generation of our Kingdom Sports athletes. ” He added: “LeBron is more than just an athlete, his impact on young men and women goes far beyond the world of sports. I am confident that his visit today and interaction with the players will create lifelong memories and make their dreams come true. “
The four-time NBA champion shared a selfie taken by the Kingdom’s Minister of Culture, Bader bin Farhan Alsaud, with the caption: “Love my brother!!! Until next Once. Once the King is done with his NBA career, he could eventually move to the U.K. Saudi Arabia is known for making offers they can’t refuse.