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Basketball icon LeBron James announced his unexpected withdrawal from the 2025 Met Gala just hours before the prestigious event, despite his role as honorary chair. The 40-year-old Lakers star cited the knee injury sustained during the recent NBA playoff series as the reason for his absence.
"Unfortunately because of my knee injury I sustained at the end of the season I won't be able to attend the Met Gala in NY tonight," James shared on social media platform X on Monday afternoon. "Hate to miss an historical event!"
James suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain to his left knee during the Lakers' elimination game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 30, according to ESPN reports. The injury came at a pivotal moment for the athlete, who was set to make his first-ever appearance at fashion's biggest night.
The 2025 Met Gala, themed "Superfine: Tailoring Black Style," will still see significant star power on its red carpet. James confirmed that his wife Savannah will attend as planned, writing that his "beautiful powerful Queen will be there holding the castle down as she always has done!"
Fashion industry insiders have anticipated this year's event with particular excitement. The gala serves as a fundraiser for the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute and spotlights the museum's spring 2025 exhibition. Curator Andrew Bolton revealed that the exhibit explores "the Black dandy as both a concept and an identity signifier."
The event features an impressive lineup of co-chairs alongside honorary chair James, including Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, and Anna Wintour. The star-studded host committee also includes Olympic champion Simone Biles and her husband Jonathan Owens, rapper Doechii, actress Regina King, filmmaker Spike Lee, basketball star Angel Reese, and music icon Usher.
James' absence marks a disappointing turn for the Met Gala, which had built significant buzz around his participation. The NBA superstar has increasingly ventured into cultural and fashion spaces throughout his career, beginning with his first Nike Air Zoom Generation sneakers in 2003 and continuing through over 20 signature shoe models.
The Met Gala withdrawal comes during a milestone spring for James. In April, Mattel named him as their first-ever "Kenbassador," releasing a Ken doll created in his likeness in partnership with the LeBron James Family Foundation.
"As a young kid, I was fortunate to have role models who not only inspired me but also showed me what's possible through hard work and dedication," James stated when the doll was announced. "It's an opportunity to recognize the powerful impact of role models who instill confidence, inspire dreams, and show kids that they, too, can achieve greatness."
The basketball legend's career remains remarkable in its 21st season, with James averaging 24.4 points per game. This year has been particularly significant as he plays alongside his son Bronny, an achievement James described on the "New Heights" podcast as "probably the No. 1 accomplishment I've ever been able to do."
The Met Gala's dress code for this year, "Tailored for You," pays homage to the exhibition's focus on menswear and suiting. The event begins Monday evening at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, with fashion enthusiasts worldwide eagerly anticipating the red carpet arrivals despite James' notable absence.
