Basketball world goes nuts over viral LeBron-Simmons clip

Basketball fans have been sent into overdrive after a clip of LeBron James and Ben Simmons teaming up went viral.

They pair may not have paired up in the NBA, but James and Simmons sure form an imposing pick-up game duo.

Four-time NBA MVP James and his protege Simmons threw down dunks, dished out assists and crossed-up opponents as part of the same team during a five-on-five scrimmage at New York’s Life Time Athletic gym.

It resulted in an overwhelming response of wild fan theories and caused a mini-meltdown.

In the opening clip of the online footage, posted by NBA trainer Chris Brickley, the new Los Angeles Laker cleaned up a Simmons miss with a huge put-back jam.

The 22-year-old Australian teed up James for multiple three-pointers as the three-time NBA champion repaid the favour with a perfectly-timed pass for the reigning rookie of the year to throw down an alley-oop.

The pair, both in the management stable of Klutch Sports, also posed for a photo after a workout earlier this week.

James’ management met with Philadelphia officials over the off-season as he weighed up joining Simmons’ Sixers following Cleveland’s 4-0 NBA Finals loss to the Golden State Warriors.

But the 33-year-old free agent settled on joining the Lakers on a four-year, $US154 million ($A214 million) contract.

Simmons will have to wait until January 30 next year to go head-to-head with the King in an NBA regular season game on James’ new home floor at Staples Centre.

LeBron’s controversial take on divisive Nike commercial

LeBron James is the latest professional athlete to weigh in on Nike’s controversial advertising campaign with Colin Kaepernick.

Nike this week unveiled the latest ‘Just Do It’ campaign with former San Francisco 49ers star Kaepernick, with one image reading: “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything.”

Kaepernick, 30, has not played in the NFL since opting out of his contract with the 49ers in 2017, following a season in which he was both praised and criticised for kneeling during the national anthem in protest at police brutality and racial injustice.

And while this latest campaign has prompted a mixed response, with president Donald Trump critical, Los Angeles Lakers forward James is firmly on Kaepernick’s side.

Having been honoured at a fashion show on Tuesday, Nike athlete James said: “I stand with Nike, all day, every day. I stand with anyone who believes in change.”

James also uploaded the striking campaign image to his Instagram page.

His take on the controversial issue probably won’t make fans who’ve been angrily burning their Nike gear too happy.

The NFL released a statement on Tuesday saying the issues raised by Kaepernick “deserve our attention and action”.

with AAP.