Following the Los Angeles Lakers‘ elimination from the Western Conference playoffs this season, LeBron James expressed his sadness and annoyance at the team’s early exit. Despite a surprising late-season surge, the Lakers were unable to win the championship after dropping four straight games. LeBron was just coming back after his foot injury. Even so, he put his best foot forward. Unfortunately, they were no match for Nikola Jokic‘s Denver Nuggets who went on to win the NBA championship. Their early exit from the playoffs prompted LeBron to reconsider his future in the NBA.

However, the playoffs were not without its moments for LeBron James. Most recently, an ex-teammate of his opened up about the iconic “Meme Moment” while recalling a night when LeBron James overturned history.

LeBron James made history

LeBron James achieved a significant milestone in his career when he surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. In the Lakers’ game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, LeBron scored a fallaway shot with only 10.2 seconds remaining in the third quarter, surpassing Abdul-Jabbar’s record of 38,387 career regular-season points.

LeBron stepped back from Kenrich Williams’ defense as the ball went past the net, cementing his position in NBA history and allowing him to go forward. Seeing James’ remarkable accomplishment, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was sitting courtside, got up and applauded. At center court, James received compliments from NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and Abdul-Jabbar, who also gave him quick hugs.

Meanwhile, amidst the historical moment, a new meme was born that night. LeBron James and a former Lakers player went viral as the meme emerged online.

The ‘meme’ captures a breathtaking split second in time as onlookers watch and record the action on their phones as James is ready to jump. Despite the enthusiasm, many people’s attention was drawn to a hilarious detail. Thomas Bryant, a member of LeBron’s Los Angeles Lakers, can be seen appearing to call for the ball underneath the basket, where he is set up for an easy post-up play.

As if LeBron not making the pass wasn’t enough, he went on to make history.

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What went on behind the moment? How did Thomas Bryant feel about it?

Thomas Bryant opens up about the ‘meme’

Thomas Bryant recently appeared on an episode of ‘Outta Pocket’ podcast where he dived into the meme. He said, “So it was funny. Every time we run a play like that, LeBron always told me, ‘If you ever had a mismatch down there, call for the damn ball. Get your a** to the post, call for the ball.'”

So, when he did find himself in a mismatch, he went straight to the post. However, to his surprise, LeBron went straight for the hoop. He said, “But then he shoots and I’m not realizing. It’s like, ‘Oh shoot, oh wait, this might be the shot,’ because I’m losing count in my head. I’m like, ‘Dang, I’m trying to get the lead back,’ trying to remember this, trying to get that…and he shoots. And I’m like, ‘I swear to God, if he misses this, go right back out his a**…’ And then he shoots it. I’m like, ‘All right, thank God?he made it.'”

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What are your thoughts on this moment? Let us know in the comments below!