Boy with Cancer’s Last Wish was to Meet LeBron James- What LeBron Did Next Made History

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At just 12 years old, Marcus Thompson faced a battle no child should endure—not once, but twice. His leukemia had returned, and this time, the doctors said there was no cure. He had only months left, and in that time, he had just one wish: to meet his hero, LeBron James.

Marcus had been a basketball fan for as long as he could remember, and LeBron had been his inspiration through his first fight with cancer. Whenever chemotherapy drained his strength, he watched LeBron play, drawing hope from the superstar’s resilience. Now, facing his toughest battle yet, Marcus clung to that same hope.

When the Make-A-Wish Foundation heard about Marcus, they stepped in to help. They asked him what he wanted most, and his answer was immediate—he wanted to meet LeBron. They helped him record a video message, telling his story and sharing how LeBron’s perseverance had inspired him to fight. The video went online, and within hours, it was going viral. Thousands of people shared it, and soon, the hashtag #LetMarcusMeetLeBron was trending worldwide.

Marcus was asleep when his video reached LeBron. The next morning, his phone was flooded with notifications. His story had captured the attention of the sports world, and even ESPN was covering it. But the biggest shock came when he opened Twitter—LeBron himself had responded.

“Marcus, keep fighting, young king. Your strength inspires me. See you soon.”

Tears filled Marcus’s eyes. LeBron had seen his message. And he was coming.

Excitement swept through the hospital as news spread. The LeBron James Family Foundation reached out, coordinating with doctors to make sure the visit could happen safely. Marcus was weak, but he promised to fight harder than ever to be strong enough for the meeting. His mom held his hand as doctors monitored his condition closely.

Then, just hours before LeBron’s scheduled arrival, Marcus’s body began to shut down. His blood pressure dropped, and the doctors feared the excitement was too much for him. His mother begged them not to cancel. This might be her son’s last wish, his last moment of pure joy.

As dawn broke the next morning, Marcus’s condition stabilized just in time. And at 10 a.m., the moment he had dreamed of finally arrived.

LeBron James walked into his hospital room, ducking slightly to fit through the doorway. He was taller than Marcus had imagined, but his warm smile put him at ease.

“There’s my young king,” LeBron said, setting down a large purple-and-gold box. “Man, it’s good to finally meet you.”

Marcus could barely speak. He had imagined this moment so many times, but now that it was real, he felt overwhelmed. LeBron noticed and leaned in. “I get nervous meeting my heroes too.”

That broke the ice. Marcus laughed, and soon they were talking like old friends—about basketball, about Marcus’s school team, about all the Lakers games he had watched. Then, LeBron handed Marcus the box. Inside was an official Lakers jersey, customized with Thompson on the back, signed by the entire team. Underneath was a pair of LeBron’s game-worn shoes, also signed. But at the very bottom was something even more incredible: an official one-day contract with the Los Angeles Lakers.

“You’re the youngest Laker ever signed,” LeBron grinned. “Welcome to the team.”

Marcus’s eyes filled with tears. He had dreamed of playing basketball at school, but now he was officially part of the Lakers. And that wasn’t all.

LeBron pulled out his phone and started a video call. The entire Lakers team appeared on the screen, shouting, “Welcome to the team, Marcus!” He could hardly believe what was happening.

Then, LeBron revealed one final surprise. That night, during their playoff game, every Lakers player would wear a purple headband with Thompson written on it. And every time LeBron scored, he would point up—to Marcus.

The next few hours passed in a blur. Marcus, exhausted but happier than ever, fell asleep just after LeBron left. That night, he watched the Lakers game from his hospital bed. True to his word, LeBron played his heart out, dedicating each basket to Marcus. He finished with 45 points, leading the team to a decisive victory.

After the game, LeBron stood before the cameras. “Tonight, I want to announce something important. I’ve seen what real strength looks like, and it made me realize I need to do more.”

He took a deep breath. “I’m creating the Marcus Thompson Foundation to help families dealing with childhood cancer. I’m donating $10 million to start, and I’ve got commitments from NBA players, sponsors, and the Lakers organization for another $40 million.”

Marcus’s mother gasped. Tommy, his best friend, dropped his phone. LeBron wasn’t just granting a wish—he was creating a legacy.

The foundation took off faster than anyone expected. Donations poured in, and Marcus, even from his hospital bed, became a leader. The Lakers set up an office in his room, where he helped choose which families to support. Despite his illness, he worked tirelessly, knowing he was making a difference.

And something incredible happened—his health started improving. The cancer hadn’t disappeared, but it slowed. The doctors couldn’t explain it, but Marcus had found something stronger than medicine: purpose.

Months passed, and the foundation helped over a thousand families. LeBron stayed involved, calling Marcus regularly, even during the Lakers’ championship run. When they won the title, he dedicated the victory to “my young king, Marcus Thompson.”

A year after their first meeting, LeBron returned. This time, Marcus wasn’t in bed—he was sitting up, thinner but stronger, his eyes full of life. Together, they reviewed letters from families the foundation had helped, fist-bumping each time they approved aid. Before leaving, LeBron showed Marcus a video: children across the country wearing Thompson headbands, families expressing their gratitude, doctors announcing research breakthroughs funded by his foundation.

LeBron smiled. “This is your real legacy, Marcus. Not just fighting your own battle, but helping others fight theirs.”

That night, Marcus looked out his window at the sunset, remembering the day he thought his life was ending. But instead of an ending, his story had become a new beginning. He glanced at his wall, now filled with photos—not just of LeBron, but of the families he had helped. Then, he picked up a framed letter he had just received:

Dear Marcus,

Your one-day contract with the Lakers has been extended indefinitely. You have brought more honor to this jersey than any championship ever could.

Keep changing the world, young king.

-LeBron James.

As Marcus drifted off to sleep, he wasn’t thinking about time running out. He was thinking about all the good he could do tomorrow—because some stories don’t end. They just keep changing lives, one day at a time.

See More: Shaquille O’Neal follows ‘one timeline’ approach drafting Curry to his All-Star squad

Team Shaq features veterans and gold medalists Steph, LeBron, KD, AD, and Jayson Tatum

Joe Lacob might have tried to get a mix of young players and veterans if he was drafting an All-Star team. Shaquille O’Neal leaned on veterans, legends, and gold medalists from Team USA when putting together Team Shaq.

Shaq went old school as the members of TNT’s “Inside The NBA” each drafted a team of eight All-Stars for next weekend’s game at the Chase Center. After taking LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers with his first pick, O’Neal proceeded to reunite last summer’s Olympic basketball team. Team Shaq has five players from that team: James, Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors, Anthony Davis from the Lakers Dallas Mavericks, Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns, and Steve Kerr favorite Jayson Tatum.

That’s the opposite of the Warriors’ notorious “two timelines” approach, where they tried to add teenagers to flank out a roster led by Curry, Draymond Green, and Klay Thompson. Shaq may not have been able to draft an older All-Star team if he tried. There’s only one timeline, and that timeline is going to be eligible for Social Security payments soon.

Perhaps worried that the team didn’t have enough veteran experience with 40-year-old James playing with 36-year-olds Curry and Durant, O’Neal also took 35-year-old James Harden and 34-year-old Damian Lillard. Rounding out the team is Tatum’s Boston Celtics teammate, Jaylen Brown, who could have been on the Olympic team as well but for an alleged Nike conspiracy.

It’s an impressive team, albeit one that would have been even more impressive 3-4 years ago. They might well have eight future Hall of Famers, with six players on Team Shaq also part of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team. Collectively, the team has 87 All-Star appearances, 13 championship rings, and eight clear memories of the events of September 11th. Tatum is four weeks from his 27th birthday, and he’s the baby of the group.

Shaq clearly believes in championship pedigree. He’s also a longtime spokesman for Icy Hot, so his draft might have been a product placement opportunity.

As for the other denizens of Studio J, Charles Barkley went international. He drafted players from Canada, Turkey, France, Cameroon, Greece, Serbia, and the USA, including Karl-Anthony Towns, who plays for the Dominican Republic’s national team. How do you say “GUARANTEE!” in Greek?

As per Barkley’s historical beliefs about the Warriors and teams of their ilk, he ended up drafting a team with very few jump-shooters. Can a non-jump-shooting team win an All-Star Game? Alperen Sengun, and Giannis Antetokounmpo are going to find out.

Kenny Smith’s team is based on youth, with 28-year-old Jalen Brunson the oldest player. He’s got two No. 1 overall picks in Anthony Edwards and Cade Cunningham and a very fast team, perhaps inspired by Smith constantly having to race his colleagues to the video board.

It’s Old vs. Young! USA vs. The World! And probably, A Random Collection Of Rookies, Sophomores Or G-Leaguers vs. Probably Team Shaq, because the NBA is going to want Steph and LeBron in the All-Star final. Expect them to get more favorable treatment than Patrick Mahomes at an NFL referees convention.

All we really know is that the international team is in trouble. Because you can’t expect Charles Barkley’s team to win in the finals.