Not Such A Bad Guy: LeBron James Honors Newton Teen
BOSTON (CBS) -- LeBron James is usually seen as the enemy in Boston, and leading the Cavaliers to a win over the Celtics on Tuesday night won't help the king's image around these parts.
But what he did during a stop in action and after the game for a local high school student will make even the most die-hard C's fan nod in approval.
During the second quarter, the Celtics honored Newton North High School student Aaron Miller as their "Hero Among Us." Miller was born with a brain disorder that doctors feared would leave him paralyzed. After undergoing thousands of hours of surgery, he now plays basketball and golf for Newton North. Recently, he was named MVP of a Greater Boston Basketball league.
Miller received a standing ovation from the Garden crowd after being honored on the JumboTron, but he also got a special visit from James during a timeout. Check out Miller's reaction when James gives him some love:
It really doesn't get much better than that.
In an interview with WBZ-TV, Miller said LeBron "made his night."
"I wasn't able to hear the whole story because I was in the game and coach was drawing up the play. But I looked up by the JumboTron and I saw what he been through and where he is now. I think the doctor said he would never walk again or talk again," James told reporters after the game. "I looked up there and right from there, it became so much more than basketball."
But that wasn't it. LeBron noticed Miller was wearing special sneakers he designed, and sought him after the game to give him a few souvenirs: His game-worn kicks.
"I designed those shoes for kids with conditions where they can't tie their own shoestrings, and he had a pair on. Those shoes that he had on are made for kids that can't tie their own shoes, and it's just one strap. When I saw his story, it was just like, I don't know, I felt like I was a part of him," James explained. "Just showing my respect, gave him my shoes. It was well received by him. It was not for you guys or the fans. It was for him."
Maybe LeBron isn't such a bad guy after all. You can boo him all you want for the 24 points he dropped on Boston on Tuesday, but he deserves a standing ovation for making Miller's night a little more special.