Special Olympian Thrilled, Grateful After LeBron James' Kind Gesture

Aaron Miller got to meet one of the best NBA players ever Tuesday night. One day later, he’s still pinching himself.

The 16-year-old Newton, Mass., native was honored as the “Hero Among Us” during the Boston Celtics’ game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at TD Garden. Miller was born with severe brain damage that doctors believed would paralyze him for life but went underwent countless surgeries and went on to play basketball for Newton North High School and was named MVP of a recent Special Olympics basketball competition.

Miller’s inspiring story led Cavs star LeBron James to walk over and greet him during a break in the action. James took things one step further after the game, giving Miller a pair of his own Nike shoes.

The Special Olympian was asked Wednesday about what it was like meeting James. Needless to say, he was pretty pumped.

“I just said, ‘Oh, my God,'” Miller told The Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach in a telephone interview. “‘I can’t believe he’s doing this right now. I can’t believe he’s doing this.'”

Miller says he also shouted “Look at my shoes!” to LeBron. That likely sparked the Cavs star, who recently signed a lifetime contract with Nike, to give Miller a special pair of Nike sneakers with no laces that’s easier to put on.

“He congratulated me and said like, ‘You deserve it. You’re an inspiration to all of us,'” Miller recalled of the exchange.

Miller’s father, Scott also was in attendance and said Celtics forward David Lee also gave his son his game-worn jersey. As for that meeting with LeBron?

“Aaron almost passed out, of course,” Scott Miller told Himmelsbach. “And there’s LeBron doing his interview standing around in his socks. The whole thing has left Aaron just in awe, but he really appreciates it.”