{"id":551426,"date":"2026-01-21T18:01:17","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T18:01:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/551426\/"},"modified":"2026-01-21T18:01:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T18:01:17","slug":"lebron-james-nearly-flips-off-nuggets-bench-in-funny-moment-caught-on-camera","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/551426\/","title":{"rendered":"LeBron James Nearly Flips Off Nuggets Bench In Funny Moment Caught on Camera"},"content":{"rendered":"

LeBron James
\n Directs Near Flip-Off at Nuggets
\n … Caught On Camera<\/p>\n

\n Published
\n January 21, 2026
\n 7:30 AM PST
\n |
\n Updated
\n January 21, 2026
\n 9:14 AM PST\n <\/p>\n

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\"lebron<\/p>\n

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LeBron James<\/a> didn\u2019t just beat the Nuggets Tuesday night \u2026 he toyed with them, and one tiny hand motion turned into the loudest moment of the game.<\/p>\n

Cameras caught King James at one point in the night looking toward Denver\u2019s bench, grinning and pretending his hand was a jack-in-the-box — with his middle finger being the “jack.”<\/p>\n

LeBron is so unserious \ud83d\ude02\ud83d\ude2d pic.twitter.com\/vwiFjfRNaQ<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Missy \ud83c\udfc4\u200d\u2642\ufe0f (@missysinghsongs) January 21, 2026<\/a>
\n @missysinghsongs<\/a><\/p>\n

Was it a flip-off? Not quite. Was it accidental? Not a chance. There’s actually a familiar face on that bench — his old buddy and teammate, Jared Dudley … so the one-finger salute could have been out of love.<\/p>\n

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After all, the two won a title together in 2020.<\/p>\n

The rest of Denver\u2019s bench didn\u2019t explode … they appeared to just ignore it or simply didn’t notice.<\/p>\n

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\"lebron<\/p>\n

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LeBron went on to score 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in the Lakers’ 115-107 victory to improve to 10 games over .500.<\/p>\n

He didn’t need to fully flip anyone off — he let the internet do it for him. Clips spread instantly, debates lit up social media over what his gesture really meant.<\/p>\n

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\"lebron<\/p>\n

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James also had a moment with injured superstar Nikola Jokic<\/a> … as the two shared a hug during the outing.<\/p>\n

After the win, James spoke highly of his Olympics foe … and called their matchup in the 2024 Paris Games a matchup he’ll never forget.<\/p>\n

LeBron James speaks about approaching the Nuggets bench to embrace Nikola Jokic during a break in the game action. \u201cIt\u2019s the utmost respect \u2026 Jokic is one of the greatest players to ever play.\u201d He added that USA-Serbia vs Jokic in Paris is a game he\u2019ll \u201cnever forget\u201d pic.twitter.com\/xBgYFU5WyT<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Dave McMenamin (@mcten) January 21, 2026<\/a>
\n @mcten<\/a><\/p>\n

Could a fine be coming James’ way for the almost-middle-finger?? It’s really hard to say … especially since he didn’t fully extend the digit.<\/p>\n