LeBron James announced that he won’t attend the 2025 Met Gala, as revealed during Game 5 of the Lakers’ playoff series last Wednesday. He sustained a knee injury during the Lakers’ last game against the Timberwolves.
This year’s Honorary Chairperson, who holds the record as the NBA’s all-time scorer, shared that his wife, Savannah James, will be attending the iconic fashion event in his place at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan.
“Unfortunately, due to a knee injury, I will not be able to attend the Met Gala in New York tonight,” James mentioned on X, just hours before the gala’s red carpet began.
“I really hate missing out on historical events! My beautiful, powerful queen holds down the castle like she always does!” he added, showing his support for Savannah.
Interestingly, this will be James’ first time missing the Met Gala, having never participated before.
Co-chairs for this year’s event include Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton, actor Colman Domingo, and musicians ASAP Rocky and Pharrell Williams, alongside longstanding host Anna Wintour of “Vogue.”
Savannah, aged 38, participated in a private dinner with Wintour on Sunday. Whether James joined her on the trip from Los Angeles to New York remains unclear.
The Lakers star suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain in his left knee in that playoff loss against Minnesota on April 30. He recorded 22 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in that game.
Injuries typically necessitate a recovery period of three to five weeks, which raises questions about James’ playing future. “I don’t have the answer to that,” he told reporters when asked if he plans to continue playing long-term. He emphasized the importance of discussing his next steps with his family and support system.
As for the Met Gala, it’s not yet known which designers will create Mrs. James’ outfit. The theme for this year’s Spring 2025 exhibition is “Superfine: Tailing Black Style,” which celebrates the contributions of Black designers and their bold fashion statements.
This theme takes inspiration from Monica L. Miller’s book, “Fashion for Slave: Styling Black Dandism and Black Diasporic Identity,” and includes twelve sections reflecting various defining aspects of dandy style, such as ownership, heritage, and beauty.
