LEBRON James has shown up for Game 5 against the Memphis Grizzlies wearing AFC Richmond gear — inspired by the fictional soccer team from Ted Lasso.
And the Greyhounds joined countless fans in predicting the Los Angeles Lakers would close out the series on Wednesday, emerging as a surprising ally for the Purple and Gold in the 2023 NBA Playoffs.
4Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James showed up for Game 5 against the Memphis Grizzlies wearing an AFC Richmond hoodieCredit: Getty
4AFC Richmond is a fictional soccer team from the blockbuster Apple TV show Ted LassoCredit: Apple TV
4James entered Game 5 with the opportunity to close out the series with Grizzlies and advance to the conference semifinals in the 2023 NBA PlayoffsCredit: Getty
4But James and his Lakers took a 116-99 loss in MemphisCredit: Reuters
James, 38, seemed locked in as he walked to FedExForum in Memphis sporting a blue AFC Richmond hoodie and with sunglasses covering his eyes.
He showed off the outfit the day after the show’s latest episode included an apparent reference to the Lakers superstar.
In Season 3’s The Strings That Bind Us, Richmond player Sam Obisanya gets told by a British minister to “shut up and dribble” after protesting the government’s foreign policies on social media.
Conservative TV host Laura Ingraham used the exact same words in response to James’ criticism of former US President Donald Trump in 2018.
The Lakers tweeted out the photo of the NBA superstar’s pregame fit, adding a caption inspired by the iconic sign from Ted Lasso that read: “Believe.”
Not long after, the official Twitter account of AFC Richmond quote-tweeted the post, writing: “Lakers in 5.”
And fans loved the unexpected sports-and-TV crossover, many of them “believing” the series would indeed be over later that night.
One tweeted: “LeBron’s got that greyhound in him.”
Another wrote: “WE BELIEVE IN YOU KING JAMES DROP 50 TONIGHT.”
A third said: “People are saying the Lakers will blow this game. Prove them wrong [crown emoji].”
And one added: “LeBelieve.”
The Lakers entered the Wednesday clash with a 3-1 lead after a heroic overtime win against the Grizzlies in Game 4.
James showed up for LA in crunchtime, scoring the game-tying basket before the end of regulation.
The four-time NBA champion logged a 20-20 double-double for the first time in his career, ending the night with 22 points, 20 rebounds, and seven assists.
He averaged 24.0 points, 13.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.0 steals, and 1.8 blocks in the first four games of the series with Memphis.
But the Grizzlies prolonged the series with a 116-99 win on Wednesday.
Still, the Lakers are on the verge of knocking out the Western Conference’s No. 2 seed in a stunning turnaround from a dreadful start to the season.
After trading Russell Westbrook in a major mid-season overhaul of their roster, the Purple and Gold went 26-18 to book a spot in the Play-In Tournament.
Then, they beat the Minnesota Timberwolves to secure the No. 7 seed — and a first-round matchup with the Grizzlies in the postseason.
