Stars of sports gathered in New York City for the 2026 TIME100 Sports Gala, where NBA icon LeBron James was honored by the magazine.
Athletes from across the spectrum of American sport attended the bash in Manhattan one night after the ESPYS were also held in the city.
The highlight of the evening was the magazine revealing that James had been named their athlete of the century.
In some off-the-cuff remarks, James talked about the importance of sports to him and the others in the room, as well as a reflection on how the Covid pandemic proved the value of competing.
But he also opened up about the cardiac scare his eldest son, Bronny, experienced when he was a freshman at USC.
‘We just had the story obviously with [Buffalo Bills safety] Damar [Hamlin], those guys come up here talking about cardiac arrest, how important that is. Our son went through something like that a few years ago at USC,’ James recalled.
LeBron James and his wife, Savannah, attend the TIME100 Gala in New York City
James spoke at the event after being named the magazine’s athlete of the century
The NBA star has yet to reveal which basketball team he’ll be playing for next season
‘And obviously if it wasn’t for the coaching staff and the medical team and everybody at USC being there in a timely fashion, we possibly be sitting here without our son, our oldest son.
‘So thank you to everybody and all the efforts when it comes to cardiac arrest. Guys, take that serious. If you got kids in elementary, you got kids in middle school, kids in high school, colleges, make sure they have these devices available where you can get ’em, practice ’em.
‘It’s very important, super, super important. Obviously, we know how important it is to our family, so we’re a big advocate of that.’
James was in New York earlier in the day at Fanatics Fest, but just like at the TIME gala, he did not reveal his next destination in the NBA.
In that appearance, James promised the audience and NBA fans that he ‘won’t hold you guys up too much longer’ when it comes to choosing his next team.
James then went on to host a live episode of his ‘Mind the Game’ podcast alongside co-host Tyrese Haliburton. A packed audience watching on clamored for James to ‘pick a team’ to play for.
‘It’s going to be fun wherever I land,’ James replied.
The stars in attendance included a wide array of athletes in the American sporting sphere.
Winter Olympics darling Alysa Liu was in attendance wearing this black lace gown
Snowboarding star Chloe Kim poses next to boyfriend and LA Rams star Myles Garrett
Soccer star Trinity Rodman wore plate armor to the event and posed next to musician Ciara
Winter Olympics darling Alysa Liu sported a black lace gown while flashing her signature piercings.
A fellow athlete in Milan Cortina, Chloe Kim, was spotted with boyfriend and recent Los Angeles Rams trade acquisition Myles Garrett.
The award for most stunning outfit of the night came from women’s soccer star Trinity Rodman, who appeared to be wearing plate armor adorned with a pink skirt.
She was photographed next to musician Ciara, who attended with now-retired NFL quarterback Russell Wilson.
Knicks star and NBA Finals MVP Jalen Brunson, alongside wife Ali Marks Brunson
Skiing icon Lindsey Vonn walks the carpet months after shattering her leg on the slopes
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex stands beside TIME Magazine CEO Jessica Sibley
Ski icon Lindsey Vonn was also walking the red carpet just months after breaking her leg on the slopes of Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Fresh off his NBA Finals victory, New York Knicks star Jalen Brunson was joined by his wife, Ali, for the evening.
Prince Harry was also in attendance and took photos alongside TIME Magazine CEO Jessica Sibley.
