LeBron James hails A'ja Wilson's stellar debut in LeBron 21 PE to start Aces' three-peat right

Modified May 17, 2024 16:43 GMT

As one of basketball's top stars, LeBron James is always looking out for the next generation. On Friday, he gave a shout-out to one WNBA star as she looks to achieve an incredibly rare feat.

After winning the WNBA title the last two years, the Las Vegas Aces will attempt a three-peat in 2024. They are led by two-time MVP A'ja Wilson. Vegas began its quest for a third title this week, and the All-Star got an extra boost from LeBron.

In the Aces' season opener against the Phoenix Mercury on Tuesday, Wilson was seen wearing a pair of player-exclusive kicks she got from LeBron James. She put a picture of her LeBron 21 PEs on her Instagram story, which led to a response from the LA Lakers forward.

LeBron reposted the photo on his own Instagram story. He also gave a shoutout to Wilson, stating that he wanted her journey to a three-peat to begin on a good note.

"Had to make sure you started it off RIGHT!!" LeBron wrote.

The reigning champs did manage to open the season in the win column. Wilson and company picked up an 89-80 win against the Mercury on their home floor after receiving their championship rings from last season.

How did A'ja Wilson perform in the shoes LeBron James gave her?

Getting a pair of exclusives from LeBron James appears to have paid off for A'ja Wilson, as she put together a dominant outing to open the year. Her all-around play was a major catalyst as the Aces kicked off the regular season with a win.

In 34 minutes of action, Wilson notched a team-high 30 points to go along with 13 rebounds and five assists. She converted 10 of her 22 shot attempts and went a stellar 10 for 11 from the free-throw line.

This high-scoring outing is nothing new for Wilson, as she did it on numerous occasions last year. Her career high sits at 53 points, a mark she hit in the 2023-24 season against the Atlanta Dream.

Aside from Wilson, Jackie Young was the other standout performer for Vegas. She ended the night with 23 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Kelsey Plum also did her part, recording 19 points.

Based on how she performed against the Mercury, Wilson might want to keep rocking the shoes LeBron James gave her. If she keeps this up all year, the Aces star will be well on her way to winning another MVP.