LeBron James to miss Met Gala debut: Why Lakers star won’t be at fashion’s biggest night

The Met Gala debut of LeBron James will have to wait another year.

James announced on social media Monday hours before the star-studded fundraiser event at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York that he won’t be able to attend as planned. James, who was named an honorary chair of the 2025 Met Gala host committee this year, cited the knee injury he suffered when the Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the NBA playoff series last week.

James noted his wife, Savannah James, will be there instead of him.

LEBRON JAMES ON NBA FUTURE: ‘I don’t know. … We’ll see’

“Unfortunately because of my knee injury I sustained at the end of the season I won’t be able to attend the Met Gala in NY tonight as so many people have been asking and congratulating me on!” James wrote on X. “Hate to miss an historical event! My beautiful powerful Queen will be there holding the castle down as she always has done!”

LeBron James has never been to the Met Gala before because the 40-year-old is usually still playing in the NBA playoffs. The Met Gala takes place annually on the first Monday in May, and only in recent seasons has James been done with the NBA postseason by now. It’s the museum’s primary source of funding

This year’s Met Gala theme is “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” inspired by a recent exhibit based off Monica L. Miller’s 2009 book “Slaves to Fashion: Black Dandyism and the Styling of Black Diasporic Identity.” The dress code at the 2025 Met Gala is “Tailored for you,” which the Metropolitan Museum of Art described as a “nod to the exhibition’s focus on suiting and menswear.”

Savannah James posted a photo on Instagram Monday previewing her outfit for the event.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Lakers star LeBron James had to cancel 2025 Met Gala debut