NBA icon LeBron James was honored as the TIME Athlete of the Century at the 2026 TIME100 Sports Gala in New York City, an event that brought together a constellation of sports' brightest stars.
During his acceptance, James delivered an emotional speech that touched on the significance of sports and reflected on a personal health scare involving his eldest son, Bronny, during his freshman year at USC. James recounted how timely intervention by the USC basketball staff and medical team was crucial.
"Our son went through something like that a few years ago at USC," James said. "And obviously if it wasn't for the coaching staff and the medical team and everybody at USC being there in a timely fashion, we possibly be sitting here without our son, our oldest son."
He urged attendees and the public to take cardiac arrest awareness seriously, advocating for the availability and practice of relevant medical devices, especially for young people in school settings. "It's very important, super, super important," James emphasized. "Obviously, we know how important it is to our family, so we're a big advocate of that."
The gala saw athletes from various disciplines gather in Manhattan, including Jalen Brunson, Alysa Liu, and Chloe Kim. Brunson, fresh off an NBA Finals victory, attended with his wife, Ali Marks Brunson. Winter Olympian Alysa Liu was present in a black lace gown, while snowboarder Chloe Kim appeared with her boyfriend, NFL player Myles Garrett. Soccer star Trinity Rodman made a notable fashion statement in an outfit resembling plate armor.
Musician Ciara, accompanied by retired NFL quarterback Russell Wilson, was also in attendance. Ski icon Lindsey Vonn walked the red carpet months after a significant leg injury.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, was among the notable attendees, photographed alongside TIME Magazine CEO Jessica Sibley.
Earlier in the day, James had appeared at Fanatics Fest, where he alluded to an upcoming announcement regarding his next NBA team. He told the audience he "won't hold you guys up too much longer" on that decision, adding, "It's going to be fun wherever I land." He later hosted a live episode of his podcast, "Mind the Game," with co-host Tyrese Haliburton, where fans in the audience called for him to "pick a team."