Lakers legend LeBron James trolls his own reading memes in hilarious new Royal Kingdom ad
LeBron James
has spent years proving his critics wrong, and now he's leaning into one of the internet's longest-running jokes at his expense. The
Los Angeles Lakers
star stars in a new commercial for the mobile game Royal Kingdom, where he humorously addresses the memes about his reading habits. The ad, which also features celebrities like Jimmy Fallon and Shakira, is set to run throughout the
NBA playoffs
.
Even if the Lakers make an early postseason exit, James' presence will still be felt thanks to this playful campaign. Here's a breakdown of the commercial and the backstory behind the viral reading jokes.
The origin of the LeBron James reading memes
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LeBron James
has long claimed to be an avid reader, often sharing photos of himself diving into books like The Autobiography of Malcolm X before big games. However, fans have repeatedly trolled him, suggesting he only pretends to read for show.
The skepticism stems from observations that James always seems to be on the same few pages whenever he's photographed with a book. Social media has been flooded with side-by-side comparisons showing him holding books open to nearly identical sections, fueling the theory that he's more interested in the appearance of reading than actually finishing books.
LeBron embraces the joke in Royal Kingdom ad
Royal Kingdom | LeBron James | Books Part 1
Instead of ignoring the memes, LeBron James leans into them in the new Royal Kingdom commercial. The ad takes a mock-documentary approach, with a gamer accusing James of lying about reading 23 books this year. The gamer presents "evidence," including secret footage that shows James swiping his fingers across book pages like a phone screen—and even holding books upside down.
To drive the joke further, the gamer enlists James' librarian as a witness, adding another layer of humor to the conspiracy. The ad cleverly flips the script, letting LeBron James poke fun at himself while promoting the mobile game.
Why the Royal Kingdom commercial works
The Royal Kingdom spot succeeds because it doesn't take itself too seriously. James, who has faced relentless scrutiny over his career, shows he can laugh at himself—something that resonates with fans and critics alike. With the ad running throughout the playoffs, the meme is set to live on, whether the Lakers advance or not.
For now, James gets the last laugh, turning a viral joke into a winning marketing campaign.
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