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 into a fresh competitive moment.
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. On his Story 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 a developing story)