LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, has fully immersed himself in the golf scene since picking up the sport last summer. Rather than keeping up with much basketball, he now spends considerable time watching YouTube golf content and following the PGA Tour. Recently, James played a round with Boston Celtics standout Jayson Tatum, and more recently, he shared the course with Jon Rahm—one of the top players in professional golf. This meeting happened just before the Los Angeles Lakers faced the Phoenix Suns.
Jon Rahm Highlights Their Round at Scottsdale’s Silverleaf Club
On Instagram, Jon Rahm shared a photo featuring himself and LeBron James, captioning it with a crown emoji, a nod to James’ famous nickname, “The King.” The post tagged the Silverleaf Club in Phoenix, Arizona, a notable golf course located in Scottsdale—Rahm’s hometown. The area is renowned for its exceptional golf facilities, making it an ideal spot for their game. NBA legend Charles Barkley, a Scottsdale resident as well, has praised Phoenix as home to some of the best golf courses worldwide.
This encounter allowed James to enjoy a personal golf session with one of the sport’s leading figures right before his Lakers team competed against the Suns.
Jon Rahm on Understanding LeBron James’ Media Spotlight
Jon Rahm, a two-time major champion including his 2023 Masters victory, has experienced escalating media attention throughout his career, particularly after his controversial switch to the LIV Golf circuit. This increased scrutiny led Rahm to express empathy for LeBron James, who has faced intense media pressure since rising to fame in the early 2000s. Rahm remarked on LeBron’s demanding press experiences, stating,
“Just feels like they’re out to get him every single day. So I don’t envy him one bit in that regard. But no, not that big a change in that part. I think a lot of it was more internal in my case than external.”
—Jon Rahm, Professional Golfer
James’ long-standing position as a central figure in American media parallels Rahm’s recent challenges, showing a shared understanding of life under constant public scrutiny.
