Cleveland Browns’ Jim Brown Ecstatic Over LeBron James’ Respect

During game three of the NBA Finals, there was a small moment that meant a lot to an old time football player. Right before the opening tip off, LeBron James noticed legendary Browns running back Jim Brown in the crowd. So before the game began, the greatest basketball player in the world bowed to Brown out of respect: something that hardly went unnoticed.

Jim Brown Ecstatic Over LeBron James’ Respect

Jim Brown, who was one of the greatest running backs to ever play the game, was ecstatic over what James did. He responded by pointing to LeBron in a show of support, but was still gleaming when later asked about the exchange.

“It was an honor for this young man to pay tribute to an old soldier,” Brown said to the Northeast Ohio Media Group. “It was very special to me. We all want to be acknowledged by our peers and by good people and respect is a great word. I look at it as a gesture of respect at a moment when LeBron is the man.”

“It was one of my favorite sports moments of all-time,” Brown continued. “He didn’t have to be thinking about me, so for him to even have the brilliance to show that kind of respect… It was a wonderful feeling.”

As for why LeBron did it, he called the bow “impromptu” and something that just felt right. “What he means to this city, what he means to this community, what he means to sports and to myself is unprecedented,” James told the press. “So it was great to see him there.”

It is amazing to see the bridge between old and new Cleveland athletes on national television, especially since it is such a sports city. Let’s hope for the sake of Cleveland, the Cavs could pull this out and end a 51-year championship drought.

Game Four is tonight at 9 pm EST on ABC.