LeBron James was left speechless seeing Saquon Barkley pull off the iconic reverse hurdle while wearing LeBron 4 cleats
LeBron James was surprised to find out that Saquon Barkley did the 180 degree jump over Jaguars defender move wearing his Nike Shoes.
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LeBron James and Saquon Barkley (Image via IMAGO/X)
LeBron James relived the moment when Saquon Barkley made history in the NFL in 2024. Everyone is familiar with the Philadelphia Eagles running back’s athleticism but he truly gave a glimpse what his capable of while playing against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
James made an appearance on a recent segment of the Pat McAfee Show amidst his ongoing tussle with Stephen A. Smith. During his visit, the Los Angeles Lakers star praised Saquon Barkley’s Madden-like skills in a real football game.
In November the Eagles faced AFC minnows the Jacksonville Jaguars and dominated them throughout the fixture. Midway through the game, Barkley picked up the ball and jumped over the Jaguars defender while doing a 180 midair.
James described the moment as ‘crazy.’ He further gave a shoutout to the 28-year-old for creating NFL history while wearing his Nike shoes.
Seeing Saquon [Barkley] out there [against the Jaguars], and I’ve got guys out there wearing my shoes now, like when Saquon did that move where he turned backward and did like a pirouette backward and like jumped up in the air like he had my kicks on… He had on the LeBron Retro 4’s—on in a spike when he did that. Oh!!! my goodness
LeBron James had told Pat McAfee
Legendary: LeBron James couldn't believe that Saquon Barkley wore LeBron 4 cleats during his iconic reverse hurdle:
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) March 29, 2025
"He had my kicks on. I was like oh my goodness.”
Greatness recognizes greatness. pic.twitter.com/Oc86w52kql
Barkley recorded 345 rushes for 2,005 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns from 16 regular season games in 2024. He and the Eagles went on to lift the Super Bowl by defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in New Orleans in February 2025.
LeBron James was captivated by Saquon Barkley’s debut in Eagles colors
Barkley entered the NFL with the New York Giants. He spent six seasons in the Big Apple, but when it was time to extend his contract, general manager Joe Schoen thought it was best to release him after forcing him to play under the franchise tag for one year.
The Eagles quickly picked him off the free agency market. Barkley was back in familiar surroundings because of his past affiliations with the Nittany Lion. Fans eagerly wanted to see their new star on the field, and Barkley didn’t waste any time showing a glimpse of his bag of tricks.
On the opening day against NFC rivals the Green Bay Packers in Brazil, Saquon Barkley rushed 24 times for 109 yards and scored two touchdowns. LeBron James watched the drama unfold from his home and later tweeted. “OMG SAQUON SO DAMN QUICK/FAST!!!!!!! SO GOOD MAN!”
OMG SAQUON SO DAMN QUICK/FAST!!!!!!! SO GOOD MAN! @saquon
— LeBron James (@KingJames) September 7, 2024
Fans were waiting to see Barkley return to New York. In week 6, the Eagles travel to the den of their NFC East rivals. Barkley dropped a career-high 176 rushing yards from 17 carries and one touchdown.
After the game, he spoke to the media.
I’m so happy this game’s over… I’m thankful for that organization [Giants]. They’re the team that drafted me. I still got nothing but love and respect for all the guys over there, but I’m happy to be an Eagle.
Saquon Barkley said via ESPN.
Barkley wasn’t finished. He topped the Giants’ game by recording 255 rushing yards from 25 carries and 2 touchdowns in a 37-20 win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Barkley rushed 100+ yards twelve times in 2024 (including playoffs). He finished with the most touches after the snap with 378 and the most scrimmage yards with 2283.
Saquon Barkley starred in an Applebee’s commercial
Barkley is among the most likable individuals in the NFL—minus the New York Giants fans who can’t stand him for signing with their bitter rivals. Regardless, the decision turned out to be the move of the year because the Penn State graduate bagged his first-ever ring.
Recently, Barkley surprised a group of young fans by partnering with Applebee’s. The popular restaurant chain posted a video on social media. In the clip, Barkley challenged the kids to a fun race. He didn’t go easy on them just because they were kids.
Barkley even took a cheeky dig at his teenage friends. Later he shared the video on his Instagram handle with the caption, “Better luck next time.”
Barkley will stick around in Philly for a long time. After the Super Bowl, he signed a two-year, $41.2 million contract extension with the Eagles that includes $36 million guaranteed and up to $15 million more in incentives.
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