LeBron James Revives 'Taco Tuesday' Tradition

LeBron James has rekindled his popular "Taco Tuesday" tradition, sharing a video on social media where he is seen enthusiastically eating tacos.

Seven years after his attempt to trademark the phrase "Taco Tuesday" was denied, James posted a clip showing him enjoying the popular weekly meal. The video begins with James playfully feigning a bad day before exclaiming, "Sike! You know what today is. It's Taco Tuesday." He then shared a vocalization that echoed across Mike's Red Taco, a San Diego-based taqueria that is expanding to Pasadena.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office previously rejected James' trademark application, deeming "Taco Tuesday" a "commonplace term, message, or expression widely used by a variety of sources that merely conveys an ordinary, familiar, well-recognized concept or sentiment message." The office further explained that the phrase is a "widely used message used by various parties to express enthusiasm for tacos by promoting and celebrating them on a dedicated weekday."

According to ESPN's Dave McMenamin, James's intention in seeking the trademark was to prevent potential lawsuits related to the use of the phrase. In the past, James frequently shared videos on social media featuring himself and his family partaking in tacos.

James has expressed his fondness for tacos and their ability to bring people together. "In addition to having an incredible taco, Mike’s Red Tacos bring those same values to life in a fresh, new way for consumers," James stated, as reported by Fox 5 in San Diego. He spent the last eight seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, where he averaged 25.9 points, 7.9 assists, and 7.7 rebounds. He led the Lakers to their 17th franchise title in the 2019-2020 NBA season, earning Finals MVP honors with averages of 29.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 8.5 assists. He is set to join the Philadelphia 76ers for NBA training camp in two weeks, having signed a two-year, $8 million deal with a player option in July.