A recent interaction with a ballboy left an impression on NBA star LeBron James.
After the Los Angeles Lakers’ game in Portland, James shared a photo on his Instagram Story featuring a small red card that had a Bible verse on it. The verse read, “So do not be afraid, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.”
This post seemed a bit unexpected for such a well-known athlete. Ro Murray from The Athletic decided to ask James about it, noting that he has a staggering 157 million followers on the platform.
Posted by lebron Isaiah 41:10 in portland
And I’m used to seeing Bron post a lot of things, but not Bible verses
so i asked him about it pic.twitter.com/8PZGO0N85H
— Law Murray 🐐 (@LawMurrayTheNU) January 21, 2026
James recounted how the Portland ballboy handed him the card after the game and told him, “Jesus loves you.” According to James, this simple gesture really resonated with him.
“It was a great quote,” he shared. “I saw it and read it, and it spoke to me, so I posted it on Instagram. I really appreciated the kindness.”
He called the message moving and described it as “wonderful.” He reflected that having that kind of insight was a significant moment for him.
Ballboys play an important role during NBA games, gathering basketballs, ensuring the court is dry, and tackling various other tasks on the court.
Interestingly, James doesn’t often discuss his faith, either publicly or on social media. Back in 2015, when asked about the potential return of injured teammates on the Cleveland Cavaliers, he noted, “There’s only one man in the world who says everything will be okay when they come back, and that’s Jesus Christ.” That was quite a surprise to the reporters present.
He brought up his beliefs again later when the Cavaliers overcame a 3-1 series deficit against Golden State to clinch the NBA championship. “I don’t know why the guy above gives me the hardest path, but… he doesn’t put you in a situation you can’t handle,” he reflected then.
Now, thanks to the ballboy’s thoughtful gesture, James has reached out to millions with a message of faith.
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