Basketball legend LeBron James publicly cheered for US striker Folarin Balogun following a World Cup performance where the player mirrored James’s famous Silencer celebration. During the 2-0 win against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Balogun netted twice and performed the gesture each time, although his initial goal was disallowed due to an offside call.
James took to social media to celebrate, posting that the Silencer had arrived at the tournament. He referred to Balogun as a Young King in his post, which quickly gained millions of views. The Silencer involves a specific sequence of raising knees and pressing palms downward to signal that an opponent has been quieted, a move James frequently employs after high-stakes shots.
Balogun, a 24-year-old sports enthusiast who was recruited to the US team with the help of NBA tickets, has tallied three goals this World Cup. Despite his success, he will miss the upcoming round-of-16 match against Belgium after receiving a red card during the Bosnia game. Meanwhile, LeBron James, now 41, is preparing for his 24th NBA season after deciding to depart the Los Angeles Lakers.
