WATCH: Damar Hamlin shares a heartwarming moment with LeBron James after Lakers’ much-needed win over Knicks at the Garden

James and Hamlin shared a heartfelt moment after Lakers Knicks game at Maddison Square Garden.

WATCH: Damar Hamlin shares a heartwarming moment with LeBron James after Lakers’ much-needed win over Knicks at the Garden

Damar Hamlin and LeBron James at Maddison Square Garden (Screengrab YouTube)

LeBron James was heading toward the tunnel inside a buzzing Madison Square Garden. The Los Angeles Lakers star saw Damar Hamlin and stopped to hug him.

Amidst the Lakers’ shaky start to the season, James walked into MSG to face the New York Nicks– who were on a nine-game winning streak. He had missed the previous game through an ankle injury but was given the green light because the Lakers required him.

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James played 40 minutes with 5 rebounds and 5 assists, ending the game with 24 points. Despite trailing 86-80 in the fourth quarter, the Lakers won the game 113-105.

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As the 39-year-old was leaving the arena, he noticed the 6-foot frame of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin. James stopped and gave Hamlin a big hug, then headed off to the Lakers locker room.

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The connection between LeBron James and Damar Hamlin

James probably did not forget Hamlin’s great gesture from last year. His son, Bronny James, suffered a cardiac arrest while he was in basketball practice at USC. The Bills player wrote a heartfelt message on X (formerly Twitter) for James Jr.’s quick recovery.

WATCH: Damar Hamlin shares a heartwarming moment with LeBron James after Lakers' much-needed win over Knicks at the Garden
Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin (3) during the second half for the 2024 AFC divisional round game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Highmark Stadium (Image via IMAGO)
Prayers to Bronny [and] the James family as well. Here for you guys, just like you have been for me my entire process.
Hamlin wrote

The Pittsburgh graduate had similar experiences just seven months earlier. In January 2023, the Bills were playing the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. During the game, Hamlin was motionless after tackling Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins.

The medical team rushed to the spot upon first examination and determined he wasn’t breathing. They administered CPR and then put him in an ambulance dispatched to the University of Cincinnati Medical Centre.

After several days of fighting with death, the doctors transferred him to Buffalo for further treatment. Once the rehabilitation process was completed, he started training on his own and rejoined the Bills in the offseason.

Hamlin saw his first action since his cardiac arrest in a preseason friendly against the Indianapolis Colts. His first regular-season outing came against the Miami Dolphins. Despite receiving the green light to play, he only saw limited action in the 2023 season, but it was enough to earn him a spot in the NFL Comeback Player list. Not only that, he was the most searched athlete on Google last year.

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