LeBron James Reveals He Will Not Attend Met Gala Due to Knee Injury; Wife Savannah to Attend in His Place

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James suffered a knee injury during the team’s season-ending game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 30, forcing him to miss the remainder of the NBA playoffs—and another major event: the 2025 Met Gala.

The 20-time All-Star and cultural icon, who was set to serve as honorary chair of the fashion spectacle, took to Twitter to break the news. “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 as so many people have been asking and congratulating me on!” James tweeted. “Hate to miss an historical event! My beautiful powerful Queen will be there holding the castle down as she always has done!”

The Met Gala, a high-profile benefit for the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute in New York, has long been a celebrity playground—and this year’s theme, “Black Dandyism,” had many fans excited to see what King James would wear. Instead, his wife Savannah James will represent the couple, continuing her growing presence as a fashion icon in her own right.

This knee injury ends James’ 22nd NBA season on a somber note, as the Lakers exited in the first round of the playoffs. Still, fans breathed a sigh of relief that this wasn’t that tweet—the retirement announcement that has loomed over recent seasons. For now, the King will recover, regroup, and, hopefully, return for another run.

The couple, who met in high school and married in 2013, remains one of the NBA’s most admired partnerships. Recently, their relationship found itself unexpectedly in the spotlight when rapper Kevin Gates criticized Savannah publicly—comments the couple appeared to subtly brush off. Ironically, Gates and influencer Brittany Renner were spotted attending a Lakers game shortly after.

As LeBron rehabs his knee and misses the fashion world’s biggest night, fans eagerly await Savannah’s Met Gala debut. And when it comes to the next chapter in LeBron James’ legendary career, only time will tell if the King is ready to suit up for Year 23.