BOSTON — LeBron James is a great ambassador for the NBA, and he proved it again during his latest trip to TD Garden.
The Cleveland Cavaliers forward shared a special moment with Aaron Miller, a 16-year-old boy from Newton, Mass., who was honored as the “Hero Among Us” at Tuesday night’s game between the Celtics and Cavaliers.
Miller was born with severe brain damage that doctors said would physically and mentally paralyze him for life. He has gone through thousands of hours of surgery and physical therapy to play basketball, and he was named the tournament MVP of the Greater Boston Basketball League in the spring.
James was touched by Miller’s story and wanted to meet him.
“I wasn’t able to hear the whole story because I was in the game and coach was drawing up a play, but I looked up at the jumbotron and I saw what he’s been through and where he is now — I think the doctors said he would never walk again or talk again, or something like that — this game means so much more than basketball,” James said.
“I also saw he had my shoes on, I designed those shoes for kids with conditions where they’re not able to tie their own shoestrings. He had a pair on. Those shoes he had on are made for kids who can’t tie their own shoes, it’s just one strap and they’re able to get them on with one hand or whatever the case may be. When I saw that and I saw his story, I just felt like I was a part of him. I just showed him my respect and gave him my shoes. It was well-received by him.”
Here’s a picture of James giving Miller his shoes.
The Cavaliers defeated the Celtics 89-77.
