“I’ll blow you and this truck up right now!” LeBron James once left teammates fuming after winning $50,000 in poker

LeBron James once won almost $50k in poker against his Miami Heat teammates, before showing off his earnings in hilarious fashion.

“I’ll blow you and this truck up right now!” LeBron James once left teammates fuming after winning $50,000 in poker

LeBron with Dwyane Wade and Mario Chalmers. (Image via Complex)

LeBron James, over the years, has been the constant face of the NBA, taking up the mantle from a certain Michael Jordan. Both brilliant in their own rights, Jordan was a bit infamous for his gambling addiction, which coupled with his desire to win, meant that the Bulls legend would often bet thousands of dollars over the most mundane events.

LeBron on the other hand, is viewed as a bit of a family man, and a role model in all aspects. However, according to a former teammate in the form of Mario Chalmers, it seems as if even James had a habit of putting money where his mouth is.

YouTube video

Back during his Miami Heat days, James won around $45,000 in a game of poker, which he played against the likes of Dwyane Wade and Chalmers. According to a video by LatsWatchHoops, Chalmers revealed:

FS Video
We were playing guts, three-card poker. It was a ghost, I had a pair of eights going around. I am the first one to get in, everybody gets out. Everybody get out, I got a pair of eights, I'm guaranteed to win. 'Bron flipped over the first card, it's a nine. Okay, that's cool. The second card, jack. Alright, he ain't hitting. Another card, nine. Pair of nines beat a pair of eights for $45,000. I paid him two days later.

This was followed by a hilarious tease, as LeBron proceeded  to show off a truck that he bought with his winnings:

He bought the f***ing truck. I wanted to blow that f***ing truck up. He bought that truck and pulled up to practice, I lived across the street. This n***a pulled up and said, 'Hey you want a ride?' I'm like, 'If you don't get away from me, I will blow you and this truck up.' I was so f***ing pissed.

LeBron James hilariously pissed off Mario Chalmers with $45k truck

The game took place during a Miami Heat team flight. This meant that not only the likes of Chalmers and Wade were involved, but the game also happened in front of all their other teammates. Not content with just winning, LeBron took his victory lap to the next level by purchasing a truck with his newfound winnings, much to Chalmers’ chagrin.

Michael Jordan and LeBron James. (Image via SI)

LeBron’s playful trolling didn’t stop there. When he showed up to practice the following week in the very truck that he had bought, Chalmers claimed he wanted to blow it up. Hence, while LeBron may not generally be associated with the kind of determination to win everything that he was a part of, like MJ, he does have a competitive streak.

It, of course, has led to 20 All-Star appearances, as LeBron continues to be the LA Lakers’ best player, even at the age of 39. Now possibly looking at teaming up with his son Bronny in the NBA, James appears to still have plenty to prove.

In case you missed: