The Hook-Up: LeBron and Jimmy

Jimmy Kimmel grew up rooting for the Lakers, watching his favorite player orchestrate Show time. In mid-April, he sat courtside at he Q, getting a look at the closest thing to Magic since then. Kimmel got his eyeful of Lebron James in a blow out of the hapless Hawks, and the two celebs exchanged pleasantries at halftime. The next day, spectator and spectatee tried out some different guises, those of ESPY co-hosts. In a house outsi de of Akron, LeBron's hometown, they began to game-plan their big night. (Which, by the way, will be shown on ESPN on July 15. Yeah, we're shameless. Did w e say 9 p.m. Eastern?)

Kimmel arrived first and headed straight for the buffet: "I'm going to eat these Fruity Pebbles." "Those were requested by LeBron," an attendant replied nervously. "I'll try not to eat them all before he comes," Kimmel said. It didn't take long after LeBron's fashionably late entrance for it to become clear that cereal preference isn't all that connects the Chosen One and the Comic One.

JIMMY You're pretty good at basketball.
LEBRON I'm decent.
JIMMY I just can't believe you're only 15. To be so physically developed at that age …
LEBRON [Laughing] You ever play?
JIMMY Yeah, I was a forward, a power forward. I was like Karl Malone; I liked to throw elbows. This is a nice house. I hear you're building one n ear here. So what will be inside? A bowling alley?
LEBRON Of course. That's a must.
JIMMY How about a refrigerator? You gonna have one of those?
LEBRON [Laughing] Yeah, I'll get one of those. Man, these shoes are too mall. They're killing my feet. Hey, wanna wear Chucks?
JIMMY Isn't that a violation for you?
LEBRON No, I can wear Chucks. We have to have the tongues out, though.
JIMMY Do you do this every weekend—you know, get together with famous people? Leno was here last week, huh?
LEBRON [Laughing] No.
JIMMY Do you hang out with other players when they come to town?
LEBRON There are a fe w guys, my close friends, who I hang out w ith: Dwyane Wade, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony.
JIMMY I had Carmelo on my show.
LEBRON Yeah, I watched it.
JIMMY I think you and I have good chemistry. I figured we would, but it's always a relief to know for sure.
LEBRON Yeah, that will help because we don't just want the show to be good; we want it to be one of the best evenings in sports.
JIMMY Yup, we're competitive. We want to be way better than Lance Armstrong last year, not to mention Matthew Perry and Jamie Foxx and everyone else who has ever hosted. We want to crush them all.
LEBRON I've already been thinking of some jokes, so I'll be prepared. But you're good at this. I'll let you lead, and I'll get out of the way. I know how far I can go with my comedy.
JIMMY Have you ever thought about acting?
LEBRON Basketball is not forever. I'm definitely keeping all doors open.
JIMMY Well, I can't give you any advice on your game, but I can tell you this: If you do go into acting and someone says Kazaam 2, pass.

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