LeBron James and Kevin Hart have been friends and occasional sparring partners for more than a decade, and their public back and forth now has a new headline. Their chemistry goes back to early publicity stunts and a 2013 Samsung commercial where Hart roasted James on a golf swing, and that easy teasing set the tone for years of playful jabs. Recently, Hart announced he was getting serious about golf and challenged James directly in an Instagram post, a move that pushed an old friendship towards serious competition.

That Instagram post from Hart was colorful and specific about timing, and ESPN picked it up quickly on its social channels. In the post, Hart wrote “@kingjames … I am publicly challenging you to 18holes in a year …. Next Sept on the 17th …. I’m going to let the world see me kick yo a–!!!!!! Consider this a threat and a warning!!!!!!!!! P.S I’m making the sleeveless golf shirt my thing!!!!!! Suns out guns out B——!!!!!!!” LeBron noticed the call out and briefly teased answering him right away, which turned a yearlong plan into an immediate headline.

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The exchange moved from a social media stunt into a viral moment when James reposted the ESPN story to his Instagram Story and layered on his own heat with lines that made clear he was taking the challenge seriously. James wrote, “It’s going to be a movie 🍿 🎬” and then piled on with “I’m going to kick his ass!!! 💀 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂” Those posts read as blame free trash talk between friends but they also confirm that both men see real entertainment value in turning their friendly rivalry into a public event.

This is not a random feud. Hart has openly been learning golf since late August 2025 and has pushed the narrative that he will use the next year to improve, while James has quietly been working on his game and talking about the mental side of the sport. James told GQ about his recent obsession with golf and admitted “I feel like I’m getting better, but more importantly, I just love the challenge, man. It’s so uncomfortable. So uncomfortable.” That line matters because it explains why James jumped at Hart’s challenge instead of letting the comic sit and train for a year.

Both Hart and James have recently developed an obsession with the game of golf, with Hart even declaring, “The bug is REAL!!”. That bug can chronologically be traced from the 2013 Samsung ad that they did together. In it, James was seen as a novice struggling with his golf swing, with Hart playfully teaching him while making fun of him in his signature style. Now however, the exchange has evolved into an actual competition, with the two intent on coming out on top.

Hart even named a date, after which James suggested speeding things up, writing earlier in one repost “Why we gotta wait a whole year?? We can get to it now!! And in a year too! Say it wit cho chest.” The proposed official date gives Hart a runway to practice and gives James a moment to sharpen his game, and the social media fireworks promise a spectacle whether the match is held in a year or sooner. Next we look at how this celebrity showdown fits into a broader trend where basketball rivalries are moving onto golf courses.

James set to take rivalry with Stephen Curry to the golf course

LeBron James and Stephen Curry defined an era of NBA competition and now their rivalry is following them to other arenas, including the golf course. The two have clashed in multiple Finals match ups and they now share a new off court dynamic that traces the same competitive instincts into leisurely settings. Golf gives both players a space to compete without an arena full of fans, yet the stakes are still real for their reputations and bragging rights.

Curry has been a long time golfer and has watched James take to the game, publicly noting his surprise at how deeply James has fallen for the sport. In a Sky Sports interview Curry said “He’s obsessed with it. He’s out there a lot more than I actually thought he would be right off the jump. So he gets it, which is great. Yeah, we’ll definitely get out and play”. That comment signals mutual respect and lays the groundwork for future tee box showdowns that could be as entertaining as their court battles.

The league schedule even adds a neat framing to this off court rivalry, since the Lakers and Warriors open their seasons against each other on October 21, 2025. That game gives fans a chance to see their basketball rivalry renewed and perhaps sets up a side storyline about which star looks sharper on the course in the weeks after the opener. Both players have used golf as part of offseason routines that keep competitive edges active while reducing physical strain.

Ultimately the move from hardwood to fairway shows how athletes evolve their competitions as careers mature, and celebrity matches like the one Hart is pushing for tap into that trend. Whether Hart versus James becomes a one off viral event or a recurring celebrity series, the interaction has already highlighted how sports, entertainment and social media combine into a new kind of public contest that rewards skill, personality and timing.