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“Flu Game”: Ill LeBron James Showing Up on 39th Birthday vs Anthony Edwards and Co Delights Fans

Published 12/30/2023, 7:52 PM EST

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USA Today via Reuters

LeBron James is ready to suit up for the Los Angeles Lakers on his 39th birthday. The Lakers will go head-to-head against the Minnesota Timberwolves tonight, and LeBron will lead the pack. But before the game, it was doubtful if King James would play against Anthony Edwards and Co. The 21-year veteran is suffering from a non-COVID illness that could have led to him getting ruled out of the game.

LeBron pushing through his sickness to play on his 39th birthday delighted fans and even garnered comparison with Michael Jordan’s legendary “Flu Game”.

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The NBA World was ecstatic to hear that LeBron James would play tonight despite being ill. That resulted in the fans comparing tonight’s game with Michael Jordan’s iconic “Flu Game” during the 1997 NBA Finals.

Some fans claimed that LeBron was just hungover from his birthday party last night.

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A fan claimed King James would drop 39 points on his 39th birthday to create history.

The Minnesota Timberwolves are the best team in the Western Conference, and the Lakers will need LeBron’s firepower to get past them. LeBron has played great the entire season. He is averaging 25.1 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 7.4 assists. He might have to pull off a performance at par with MJ’s legendary “Flu game” to beat Anthony Edwards and Co.

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Can a sick LeBron James top Michael Jordan’s Flu Game?

There have been comparisons between LeBron James and Michael Jordan ever since King James entered the NBA. So, it was expected that LeBron playing with an illness would be compared to MJ’s Flu Game. Just like LeBron tonight, Jordan was suffering from an illness before Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals. MJ played through his sickness and dropped a dominant 38 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists to beat the Utah Jazz. His legendary performance gave the Bulls a 3-2 series lead, and they eventually went on to win the Championship in the next game.

MJ was visibly sick throughout the game and fell on Scottie Pippen’s shoulders at the end due to fatigue and weakness. That game came to be known as MJ’s Flu Game. LeBron James is not facing the same stakes MJ was facing in 1997. Tonight is a regular season game for the Lakers. But it is against the best team in the West. A win tonight will boost the Lakers’ confidence, and they can move up in the standings.

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It will be interesting to see if a sick LeBron James can deliver on his 39th birthday and top Michael Jordan’s Flu Game performance.

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Written by:

Rohan Bhaunt

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“Nothing is given. Everything is earned.” - This LeBron James quote struck me very early in my life.
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