Desmond Bane of the Memphis Grizzlies suffered a major toe injury earlier this season, requiring him to find proper shoes to support the injury. After testing various options, he found that the best and most comfortable shoe for him was the latest edition of his first-round playoff rival, the LeBron XX.
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Desmond Bane Has a Beef With LeBron James
Bane is the second-leading scorer for the Grizzlies. He had a confrontation with LeBron James during a Lakers-Grizzlies game on January 9, 2022. McMahon of ESPN described the confrontation as a "landmark moment" in which James chastised Bane for "talking s**t," and Bane barked back, solidifying the Grizzlies' reputation as a young and cocky team.
After returning from his injury, Bane wore the LeBron XX shoe multiple times, including against the Lakers on January 20, which made him anxious. However, James broke the ice by asking Bane if he had enough of the shoes and if he needed any more, making Bane feel like James respected him.
James confirmed his offer to assist Bane was genuine after the Lakers defeated the Grizzlies in Game 1 of their first-round series on April 17, 2023. He praised Bane's shoe choice and said he would send more shoes to make him a "LeBron athlete."
Although Bane admits that it was bittersweet to discover that the LeBron XX was the best shoe for him, he knew that playing basketball was more important than his pride. The Grizzlies pulled a 103-93 win over the Lakers in Game 2 of their first-round series, even without their star player Ja Morant. This win evened their first-round series at 1-1.
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