Puka Nacua Admits Starstruck Moment With LeBron James

Puka Nacua Admits Starstruck Moment With LeBron James originally appeared on Athlon Sports.

Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua is officially an established athlete celebrity in the City of Angels. Even megastar LeBron James got to interact with him.

And it was a moment that Nacua admits left him starstruck.

The incoming third-year wideout shared the encounter with ESPN Los Angeles following a Rams NFL Training Camp practice.

Nacua visited the Lakers and met with James for the first time ever back in February. He reflected back on that moment in meeting one of his favorite athletes of all time. Even admitting he displayed a timid side during the friendly encounter with the Lakers star.

"It was the greatest dap up of my life. But I've never been so stressed," Nacua shared during the moment he was about to dap it up with James.

He became nervous about how his hand was cupped in describing the moment with the radio panel. But the two star performers embraced each other. He also recalls the message the four-time NBA champion gave him.

"He said 'keep doing your thing,'" Nacua said, which got him celebrating with a loud "Yes!"

He added how the moment "means something to me." Nacua later included how he reacted once he turned off the lights and called it a night.

"I don't think I went to bed that night," Nacua said. "I stayed up for eight extra hours for no reason."

Nacua is yet to earn his first pro championship ring. But he's risen as a popular athletic star in L.A. following two stellar NFL campaigns. Including his breakout rookie season that saw 105 receptions for 1,486 yards.

He's since become a recognizable figure in Southern California -- including receiving VIP treatment at Laker games while also sitting in the suites for Kings contests. Now James embraced Nacua's presence and own celebrity in L.A.

This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 30, 2025, where it first appeared.