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LeBron James during a game against the Sacramento Kings on January 12, 2026
The Sacramento Kings added a sharp social media twist to Monday night’s result, poking fun at LeBron James after spoiling what was meant to be a symbolic moment in his career.
Following their 124-112 win over the Los Angeles Lakers, the Kings posted a cheeky message on X that quickly went viral, turning a commemorative night into an unexpected punchline. The humorous jab drew thousands of likes and views as fans flooded the replies.
The timing was deliberate, as the game marked the debut of a special jersey patch worn by James to honor his historic 23rd NBA season, a milestone no player has previously reached.
Kings Spoil a Symbolic Night for LeBron James
The patch was created to commemorate James entering uncharted territory in terms of longevity, unveiled by the Lakers as part of a collaboration tied to Topps memorabilia and trading cards.
The matchup carried added symbolism, as Sacramento was also the opponent James faced in his NBA debut back in 2003.
The design itself features a silhouette of James’ iconic pregame chalk toss alongside three colored stripes representing the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Lakers, the franchises he has played for during his career.
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The 41 year old is set to wear the patch for the remainder of the regular season. After each game, the patch will be removed, dated and sent to Topps’ production facility in Dallas, where it will be authenticated before being inserted into a limited edition trading card.
What was intended as a celebratory milestone, however, was quickly overtaken by the result on the floor.
Kings Let Their Play and Posts Do the Talking
On the court, the celebration never materialized. Sacramento controlled key stretches and handed Los Angeles another loss, overshadowing what was meant to be a landmark night for the Lakers superstar.
James finished with 22 points, four rebounds, three assists and one steal, shooting 8-of-17 from the field and going scoreless from three-point range on five attempts.
Luka Doncic once again led the Lakers with 42 points, seven rebounds, eight assists and four steals, though his performance was followed by a concerning injury update postgame.
DeMar DeRozan led Sacramento with 32 points and six assists, guiding the Kings to their second straight win after a seven game losing streak. Former Laker Russell Westbrook added 22 points and seven assists.
The difference was stark from beyond the arc. Los Angeles shot just 8-of-36 from three point range, while Sacramento caught fire, knocking down 17-of-26 attempts. That disparity helped the Kings build a lead that ballooned to as many as 20 points.
With the loss, the Lakers fell to 23-14 on the season, sitting fifth in the Western Conference amid a three game losing streak. The Houston Rockets now sit just half a game behind them in seventh, adding further pressure as Los Angeles search for much-needed momentum.
Matt Evans is a sports journalist from the United Kingdom, based in Paris, with over a decade of experience covering the NBA and wider global sport. More about Matt Evans
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