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Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is ready to cheer on Duquesne in the NCAA tournament, and the Dukes are gearing up for March Madness thanks to the four-time NBA champion himself.
James gifted the Duquesne men’s basketball team with new sneakers: his iconic Nike LeBron 21s, according to TMZ Sports—before their tournament opener against BYU on Thursday:
LeBron James @King James
Yes sir!! ???????????????????????? Good luck guys!! https://t.co/ngxGghmCd7
The news is not surprising since Duquesne head coach Keith Dambrot was James’ head coach for two years at St. Vincent-St. Marie High School. Dambrot retires from coaching after the NCAA tournament.
Sneakers, which are modeled after the oyster farming process, are white and light blue, feature Air Zoom cushioning and a glow-in-the-dark outsole.
They’re also a tribute to James’ daughter, Zhuri, “and how the proud father protects his daughter like a shell shelters a pearl,” according to TMZ Sports.
Duquesne, the No. 11 seed, won the Atlantic 10 championship last Sunday to secure a spot in March Madness. This is the Dukes’ first tournament appearance since 1977.
