Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s playoff appearance caught LeBron James’ attention fast

LeBron James posted a salute and crown emoji for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce at Game 3. The engaged couple sat courtside as the Cavaliers hosted the Knicks in Cleveland on Saturday night.

Swift and Kelce received a loud ovation from the Ohio crowd when they appeared on the arena video screens. Kelce is a Cleveland native who grew up in the area before joining the Kansas City Chiefs in the NFL.

James reposted photos of the pair enjoying the playoff atmosphere on his personal Instagram Stories. His 🫡👑 emoji message translates into words of recognition for the high-profile couple.

LeBron shouts out Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce on IG 🫡👑 pic.twitter.com/KkA8Pv8Scs

Sneaker observers quickly noticed that Kelce was wearing the LeBron 7 MVP colorway from Nike's signature line. The specific footwear choice added a very clear personal connection between the NBA star and the Chiefs tight end.

This was not the first time James publicly acknowledged the couple and their high-profile relationship. He previously joked about giving up his status as the most famous athlete from Northeast Ohio to Kelce.

“What Trav has got going on right now,” James said, “I’ll give up my crown.” That comment was made during the peak of attention on the Swift-Kelce relationship in late 2023.

The courtside appearance marked a rare public outing for the engaged couple ahead of their upcoming wedding. Swift and Kelce have kept a relatively low public profile in recent months before this playoff event.

Game 3 ended with the Knicks winning 121-108 to take a commanding 3-0 series lead over the Cavaliers. Cleveland now faces elimination in the Eastern Conference Finals after dropping three consecutive games at home.

ESPN broadcasters notably avoided saying Swift’s name during the live telecast, calling her Kelce’s fiancée. The broadcast decision drew mixed reactions from viewers on social media throughout the evening.

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