Who knew that an entire theater show could center around Lebron James of all people? It’s not that I hate Lebron James or anything, it’s just not super common to watch musicals that feature a plot centering around sports, but it looks like sports will be crossing over into the industry as King James looks to take a deep dive into the relationship between two good friends who share a love for basketball and even more specifically—Lebron James. The play shows how genuine camaraderie can be formed through common interests and mutual fandom.
The two main characters, Matt and Shawn, unexpectedly meet as Matt works as a bartender and Shawn is an aspiring writer. The pair share their love for basketball as they closely follow the Cleveland Cavaliers who feature star, Lebron James, in the 2003-2004 season. As time goes on, the relationship between the two continues to grow strong until James’s final—or what we initially thought was his final—season with the team. Matt and Shawn’s friendship went through a brief period of strain and difficulty as they dealt with personal issues that hurt their relationship. James’s short “break” from the Cavaliers did not help matters considering that that aspect brought the two together. As James returns to Cleveland during the 2014 season, there is a heavy emphasis on the split between the two characters and how, despite their common love for both the team and the sport, the two managed to grow a bit distant
The play exhibits the importance of loyalty in both entertainment and friendship. It shows how a common interest in something can bring people together in unexpected ways. James’s campaign with the Cavaliers serves as a metaphorical symbolism for the genuine connection between both Matt and Shawn, and showcases how a love for sports can play a pivotal role in the relationship between two good friends.
The play is currently being showcased at the Meldrum Theatre taking place at Einar Nielsen Field House and will be featured until April 4, 2026. The story, while maybe not as dimensional as some musicals, should be a good watch, and captures the essence of a brotherhood developed over a common love for sports.
