Lebron James gave a 'Wakanda' salute in memory of Chadwick Boseman at the NBA playoffs

• LeBron James offered a tribute to the late actor Chadwick Boseman on Saturday night when he struck the "Wakanda Forever" pose during a pre-game moment of silence.
• James also called Boseman a "superhero" and lamented the deaths of both the "Black Panther and Black Mamba in the same year," adding that "2020 is the sh---tiest year."
• The "Wakanda" pose has made several appearances at sports events over the weekend, including by Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and F1's Lewis Hamilton.

LeBron James offered a tribute to the late actor Chadwick Boseman on Saturday night during the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trailblazers playoff game.

During a moment of silence before the game, James struck the "Wakanda Forever" pose, as was portrayed by Boseman while playing King T'Challa in Marvel's "Black Panther."

Boseman died at the age of 43 on Friday, after a private four-year battle with colon cancer.

The team stood under banners that also commemorated the recent deaths of former Trailblazer Clifford Robinson and Basketball Hall of Fame coach for the University of Arizona Lute Olson.

In comments to the press after the game, James called Boseman a "superhero" and likened the news of his sudden death to that of Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, who died in a helicopter crash in February with his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna.

"It actually felt like we had our black superhero and nobody could touch us," James said of Boseman. "To lose that, it's sad in our community."

"To lose Black Panther and Black Mamba in the same year, 2020 is the sh--tiest year," James said.

The "Wakanda" pose has made several appearances across the sports world over the weekend, including by Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and F1's Lewis Hamilton.

In the days after Boseman's death, fellow actors, celebrities, and even former President Barack and first lady Michelle Obama spoke out to honor the actor.

The Obamas specifically pointed to Boseman's portrayal of Jackie Robinson in the "42" as a bright spot in his legacy of powerful roles that made him a "hero."

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