The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual Met Gala will roll out its red carpet for “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” on Monday night.
However, this year, one of its honorary chairs, LeBron James, won’t be there.
James had been named an honorary chair alongside fashion and entertainment heavyweights, Anna Wintour, Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky and Pharrell Williams, making his debut in the gala’s 2025 lineup.
Instead of walking the red carpet, he’ll be back in Los Angeles focusing on rehabilitation.
Shortly after James’ announcement, former Cavaliers teammate Kevin Love popped up on X with a tongue‑in‑cheek query, “Who’s the injury replacement?”
“Savannah James will be replacing me in the All-Star Met Gala game! She deserves it!” James answered.
James, the four-time NBA champion, four-time NBA Finals MVP and four-time regular season MVP, was drafted first overall by the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003.
Love, a five-time NBA All-Star, two-time All-NBA Second Team recipient, and 2011 Most Improved Player, was drafted fifth overall by Minnesota in 2008.
He spent six seasons as the Timberwolves’ leading scorer and rebounder.
In 2014, Love was traded to Cleveland, teaming up with James and Kyrie Irving.
The Love and James duo reached four straight NBA Finals (2015-2018), culminating in a championship in 2016.
This season, at age 40, James averaged 24.4 points, 7.8 rebounds and 8.2 assists over 70 games before suffering a knee sprain on April 30 during the first-round playoff elimination.
Now, that seemingly innocent injury is one that will keep him sidelined from tonight’s festivities.
Even though the Met Gala will proceed without its most talked‑about athlete, sports remain firmly in the spotlight.
