The king paid respect to the Dukes on Sunday.
NBA All Star LeBron James congratulated the Duquesne University men’s basketball team Sunday on their entrance into the NCAA tournament, the first time the Dukes have made the dance in 47 years.
James, a four-time NBA MVP and Akron, Ohio native, posted on X Sunday his adulation on Duquesne’s win against Virginia Commonwealth University in the A-10 Tournament at Barclays Center in New York.
YESSIRRR!! Punch that ????️ to the Big Dance @DuqMBB!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! Love you Coach Dambrot & @CoachDruJoyce ????????????????????????????
— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 17, 2024
He shared his love for Duquesne head coach Keith Dambrot, who coached James in high school at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron.
“YESSIRRR!! Punch that to the Big Dance,” James wrote. “CONGRATULATIONS!!!!! Love you Coach Dambrot.”
The Dukes won a hard-fought 57-51 game, staving off a late rally by VCU.
James, a 20-time All Star, clearly appreciated the effort. James entered the NBA directly out of high school and never played college basketball. He is considered one of the greatest basketball players in history, and is the all-time leading scorer in NBA history. He has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Miami Heat. He currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers.
Seedings and pairings for the NCAA Tournament were to be announced later Sunday.
