LeBron James responded to journalist and former college basketball player Allie Clifton after she recently paid tribute to the Los Angeles Lakers star on Instagram. James dropped a two-word message about Clifton’s attire on his Instagram story on Friday, drawing a reaction from ESPN Cleveland’s X account, as rumors continue to swirl regarding his NBA future.
“Proper attire” – LeBron James’ comment on Allie Clifton wearing a Bron Cavs jersey 🤔🤔🤔 pic.twitter.com/QSmo7hlSSE
— ESPN Cleveland (@ESPNCleveland) July 4, 2025
Clifton got things started when she posted a selfie with her brother on her Instagram story. The siblings were wearing the jerseys of James’ former team Cleveland Cavaliers, with the media personality rocking the basketball legend’s iconic Christmas uniform with Cleveland.
“Favorite two days, in FULL swing. #JerseyDay. Only 1 we rock,” the Lakers’ Spectrum SportsNet host wrote in her story.
James appreciated their tribute on the 4th of July weekend, sharing Clifton’s photo on his Instagram story.
“Proper attire,” James wrote in his caption.
Clifton and James, who both grew up in Ohio, have known each other for a long time now. Clifton was Fox Sports Ohio’s sideline reporter when James played for Cleveland. She followed James to Los Angeles when he transferred to the Lakers in 2018, joining Spectrum SportsNet.
All eyes are on James right now as he contemplates the next step in his basketball career. He recently exercised his $52.6 million option to play for the LA Lakers in the 2025-26 NBA season.
However, that wasn’t enough to shut down the trade rumors, with his agent Rich Paul adding fuel to the fire. Paul opened the door for a possible blockbuster move, telling ESPN’s Sham Charania that James “values a realistic chance of winning it all.”
Revisiting Allie Clifton’s College Basketball Career
Before becoming an accomplished journalist, Allie Clifton was a college basketball player. She played four seasons at Toledo, suiting up for the Rockets from 2006 to 2010. Clifton played 24 games in her freshman year, averaging 4.6 points and 3.7 rebounds.
She dazzled in her sophomore year, posting career-best numbers in scoring and rebounding. She averaged 13.7 points and 6.1 boards through 22 games in the 2007-08 NCAA season.
However, Clifton’s offensive numbers started to dip after that season, averaging 9.5 and 5.7 points, respectively, in her junior and senior years at Toledo. She did not experience March Madness, with Toledo failing to reach the NCAA Women’s Tournament during her time with them.
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