Moments after Michael B. Jordan secured the first Academy Awards win of his career, celebrations poured in from across Hollywood and the sports world. Among the loudest voices was LeBron James, who quickly jumped onto Instagram with a short, powerful reaction that captured both pride and friendship.

The Los Angeles Lakers star shared multiple celebratory stories, highlighting Jordan’s historic moment after his performance in Sinners. James’ reaction- just three words in all caps, perfectly summed up how he felt watching his close friend reach the pinnacle of Hollywood.

“CONGRATS MY GUY!”

Jordan’s win came for his dual role as twins Smoke and Stack in the Ryan Coogler-directed film, which also saw Coogler take home Best Original Screenplay. The victory placed Jordan ahead of a stacked field that included Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ethan Hawke and Wagner Moura.

For James, the celebration wasn’t a surprise. The NBA icon has been publicly backing Sinners and its team since late 2024, frequently promoting the film and showing support for both Jordan and Coogler long before the awards season spotlight arrived.

Back in September 2024, when only the launch date came out, LeBron James was already excited. The 4x NBA champion wrote, “Can’t wait!!” alongside a couple of flame emojis. And when the movie came out last year, the James household was once again front and center promoting it.

LeBron James and his wife, Savannah James, hosted a private screening of the film at their home. Adding a picture of him with his wife and a huge poster of the movie in the background, the 22x All-Star sent a tweet that, until today, has garnered over 11.5 million views.

“My brothers Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan did it again!!! ABSOLUTE INCREDIBLE FILM! Ryan, Thank you for allowing My Queen, I, family and friends to screen it. 10/10 movie! Make sure y’all go check out “SINNERS” tomorrow! It’s a MUST SEE!!!!!! 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾.”

LeBron even appreciated the director Ryan Coogler before the movie’s release. They did an interview together, where the Lakers star stated, “I know that for sure, being a big fan of your work, and then just being homies and whatever the case may be. Always supporting one another.”

This victory also shines a light on a growing trend: elite athletes leveraging their storytelling prowess to make waves in Hollywood.

A striking parallel comes from the late Kobe Bryant, who became the first professional athlete to win an Academy Award when his animated short film Dear Basketball took home Best Animated Short Film at the 2018 Oscars.

Bryant personally wrote and narrated the heartfelt piece, drawn from his retirement poem, partnering with animator Glen Keane and composer John Williams to create a poignant tribute to the game he loved.

The support was visible after an enormous win for both the director and the star. However, the relationship dynamic is also mutual. It’s not just Bron promoting the movie; even Jordan took a firm stance on Bron’s legacy.

LeBron James gets his flowers from Jordan

This pair of James and Jordan has shared a close bond. Unlike the Bulls legend, being a little distant from Bron. Apart from this, the Lakers forward has also enamored Michael B. Jordan with his flawless depiction skills. Likewise, for the NBA’s 75th anniversary, they collaborated on a fun skit together.

In fact, Michael B. Jordan even stated that he viewed LeBron James as the GOAT athlete worldwide. “I’m thinking across all sports, imma say LeBron James”, said Jordan when asked about who the GOAT athlete is. “Been greater for longer… who could have played multiple sports. Could have gone pro.”

Mutual admiration and constant support for each other make this friendship organic. Two individuals of brilliance, dominating their respective industries while continuing to adapt and rule the hearts of many.