LeBron James is used to being admired, and wrongly thought more love from the Paris crowd during Monday’s Olympic quarterfinal victory over Brazil was coming his way from the bench. 

As James took to the bench for the rest of the American’s blowout victory over Brazil, the crowd cheering loudly, with cameras on him. James motioned to put an imaginary crown on his head. 

However, the cheers were for someone in the crowd the French have come to adore in the last few weeks, swimmer Léon Marchand. 

Marchand was in the Bercy Arena crowd for the game, and when the Paris audience saw him also watching James, Devin Bookers, and the rest of the Americans dominate, the French got loud. 

James was unaware of Marchand being in the crowd and continued to pose for the cameras while the swimmer stood up to greet the crowd’s admiration. 

+

2

View gallery

LeBron James did a crown gesture thinking the French crowd was cheering him on

+

2

View gallery

During the USA-Brazil quarterfinal, the Paris audience was saluting Léon Marchand instead