"Lil too stiff with it" - NBA fans troll Frances Tiafoe for mimicking LeBron James' power shrug at US Open

LeBron James has his line of signature moves. These moves aren't just plays on the ball. His iconic moves include his celebrations, such as his shrug and flex.

Some of his fans have imitated this celebration by the LA Lakers star, but their versions are rarely filmed. However, tennis player Frances Tiafoe offered the LeBron shrug during his recent US Open win.

Some of the fans who saw Tiafoe's homage to LeBron found it lacking, and they made it known on Instagram.

Explore the NBA Draft 2024 with our free NBA Mock Draft Simulator & be the GM of your favorite NBA team.

"Ngl he was a lil too stiff with it," real_frantz said.

Fans react to Tiafoe's LeBron imitation (Photo credits: nbaonespn IG)

"Bro dancing that ain't no power shrug," siwrxhatch_nd_evo9_rs commented.

"That was def spontaneous. He didn't practice that in the mirror lol," jaylrob804 pointed out.

In other comments, fans roasted Tiafoe for his shrug while praising him for his game.

"We gotta work on the shrug but I get you playa," maybach_q commented.

"Not quite but great win Big Foe," dwhite.originals said.

"Why bro do it so elegantly," thenategraham said.

In the match where he imitated LBJ, Tiafoe beat fellow American Ben Shelton in five sets. With the win, Tiafoe advances to the Round of 16, where he will take on Australia's Alexei Popyrin.

Also read: Watch: Savannah James & LeBron sing Adele's 'Someone Like You' with Draymond Green at concert in Munich

LeBron James explains the power shrug

The shrug is just one of many moves that LeBron James performs when celebrating. However, it is more than a random exclamation mark.

The shrug is something he does as a result of a specific play, the And-1.

As one of the strongest and fastest players on the court, LeBron has his share of plays where he is fouled when attempting a shot, yet he still scores.

One of the more common NBA sights is LeBron barreling down the lane while a defender awaits. Instead of swerving from his defender, though, he uses his momentum and continues to the cup, where he often elevates for a dunk while the defender is whistled.

Fans might see James follow up his points in those moments with a shrug. Global spectators were treated to one of these in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

About the author

Miguel is a basketball writer at Sportskeeda with an overall experience of 7 years. A lover of the sport owing to its mental aspect, he has played it throughout high school and college as a power forward and small forward, and has also coached high school and college basketball teams. These experiences have given him a unique perspective on the game, which translates into insightful content.

For Miguel, the San Antonio Spurs, especially during the Tim Duncan era, were the embodiment of team basketball. He respects Gregg Popovich's empathy toward his players and his understanding of the game. The Spurs' titles, Kobe Bryant's poignant "Dear Basketball" tribute, Derrick Rose's remarkable 50-point game with Minnesota and Magic Johnson's remarkable comeback are among Miguel's top basketball moments.

For his articles, he conducts thorough research, cross verifies information with at least three sources, and sometimes sacrifices speed for accuracy. Content simplification and maintaining a neutral view on topics are his strengths.

Miguel follows other sports, particularly the NFL, and when not working he enjoys hobbies like cooking and playing video games.

Know More

Los Angeles Lakers Fan? Check out the latest Lakers depth chart, schedule, and roster updates all in one place.

Edited by Joshua Broom