LeBron James had kind words to say about Grant Wahl and fondly remembers the ‘The Chosen One’ Sports Illustrated photoshoot
48 years old Grant Wahl, who was one of the most popular soccer writer in the United States, died Friday while covering the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
During the Netherlands-Argentina quarterfinal, Wahl received medical attention in the press box. Later, he was taken to a hospital.
Grant Wahl is then said to die on his way to the hospital or at a hospital. The place of his death is not yet confirmed.
Further, as of Saturday night, the exact cause of Wahl’s death remains unclear.
The members of the sports fraternity are mourning the death of Wahl. Grant is said to have brought an unchallenged passion for the game throughout his life.
Also, the impact of Wahl was not just limited to soccer, his influence was extended beyond one sport.
Before starting his own soccer company, Substack, Grant Wahl enjoyed a 24-year run with Sports Illustrated.
When Grant Wahl worked for Sports Illustrated, Wahl wrote one of his most famous stories in 2002 when he traveled to Akron, Ohio. He wrote about a young LeBron James, who was then a junior basketball star at St. Vincent-St. Mary High School.
We know the famous story as ‘The Chosen One’; it was a Sports Illustrated photoshoot and a cover story featuring King James.
The Sports Illustrated cover story, ‘The Chosen One’ was Lebron James’ grand introduction to the world. The story gave us a chance to meet with a then 17-year-old James who had been dubbed as the heir to Michael Jordan himself in the basketball world.
As time passed by, LeBron went on fulfilling the expectations of the public and answered all the questions that needed answering. In short, LBJ lived up to the hype.
Los Angeles Lakers star, LeBron James, hence had a deep connection with Grant Wahl. A connection he is not ready to forget easily.
The four-time NBA champion, Lebron James had kind words to say about Wahl in the post-game conference after the Lakers game against the 76ers.
This what LBJ said about Grant Wahl death. James also says how he remembers Wahl.
“…very fond of Grant. And having that cover shoot, me being a teenager and him covering that was a pretty cool thing. He was always pretty cool to be around and spent a lot of time in my hometown of Akron covering me over the course of time before that shoot came out…I’ve always kind of watched from a distance. Even when I moved up in the ranks and became a professional. He kind of went to a different sport and things of that nature. Over the years, anytime his name would come up, I would always think back to me as a teenager and having Grant in our building down at Saint V. So, it’s a tragic loss to lose someone as great as he was. I wish his family the best and may he rest in paradise.” said James.
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