LeBron James, Who Was Labeled ‘The Chosen One’ By Grant Wahl, Offers His Condolences After Shocking His Death In Qatar

Grant Wahl followed LeBron James’ career from a distance as he transitioned from covering college basketball to soccer. James was the subject of what is arguably Grant Wahl’s most well-known article, a 2002 Sports Illustrated cover feature naming James, who was 17 at the time. LeBron James spoke about the passing of former Sports Illustrated reporter Grant Wahl, who died earlier on Friday while reporting from Qatar for the 2022 World Cup, just after the Lakers’ 133-122 loss to the 76ers on Friday night.

James expressed sympathy and described Wahl’s untimely death in Qatar on Friday as a “tragic loss.” Grant Wahl was undoubtedly one of the world’s top soccer journalists, but he was also highly well-known in other sports, including basketball.

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LeBron James mourns GrantWahl’s death

Here’s what LeBron said: “My condolences go out to his family. I saw his brother say something as well. Until we get further details into what transpired [I will not comment further on the nature of his death]. But I’m very fond of Grant and having that cover shoot—me being a teenager and him covering that, it was pretty cool thing. And he was always pretty cool to be around. He spent a lot of time in my hometown of Akron covering me over the course of time before that cover story came out.”

“I’ve always kind of watched from a distance. Even when I moved up in the ranks and became a professional and he kind of went to a different sport and things of that nature over the years, anytime his name would come up I would always think back to me as a teenager and having Grant in our building down at St. V. So, it’s a tragic loss. It’s unfortunate to lose someone as great as he was and I wish his family, like I said, the best. And may he rest in paradise.”

James also stated he noticed Eric Wahl’s statement that he thinks foul play was involved but declined to comment on the circumstances of Wahl’s passing without more information. While reporting Argentina vs. Netherlands game on Friday, Wahl, 48, passed out.

After receiving CPR, he was driven to a hospital in an Uber. He was a vocal opponent of having the World Cup in Qatar and was briefly held earlier in the competition for wearing a rainbow jersey to the USA vs. Wales game in support of the LGBTQ+ community.

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