While LeBron James was in Cleveland hitting the court on Friday night, a stranger was allegedly posted up at his place in Los Angeles, telling police the two of them are family.
The LAPD confirmed to KTLA that officers responded around 9:40 p.m. on Nov. 6 to a report of a possible burglary, and that a man was taken into custody at the scene and arrested for felony stalking. According to TMZ, which broke the story, security spotted the man on a surveillance camera around 9 p.m. and called the cops.
TMZ reports the man wildly claimed to believe he’s LeBron’s son. That claim doesn’t hold up on its face, since the world knows Bronny, Bryce and Zhuri, and nobody else has ever been introduced to the family. Still, police say it’s what he told them, and that’s now part of the record.
The good news is that the suspect never got inside the residence, and a police report for stalking was filed. Nobody was hurt, and LeBron and his family weren’t anywhere near it.
James was in Ohio with the Philadelphia 76ers for their game against the Cavs, where he reportedly caught a mix of cheers and boos from the crowd.
It’s also worth noting the house is probably quiet these days anyway. One report says James has said he plans to live in New York City while playing for Philadelphia, so the L.A. spot may be sitting empty more than usual. That makes it a perfect target for somebody chasing attention, and a reminder that having millions of fans means a few folks are going to cross the line from fan to fixated.
The athlete has not yet released a statement regarding this incident. We’re just glad the athlete and his family are safe.