“King James”
Detroit Public Theatre
Detroit
Through June 6, 2026
Detroit Public Theatre’s production of Rajiv Joseph’s “King James” use sportsas a vehicle to move beyond the superficial, examining their role in society and especially in male relationships. The two-person play is essentially a bromance tale based on a shared passion for the Cleveland Cavaliers, framed around the career of “King” LeBron James from his 2004 rookie season to the 2016 NBA championship.
The story begins with Shawn (Mateo Davis) meeting Matt (Alexander Poubutsky) to buy his remaining season tickets for the Cavaliers. As they negotiate the price, the two discover a shared obsession with the team and begin to learn about each other’s lives: Matt is a down-on-his-luck, aspiring entrepreneur, resentful at his parents for no longer willing to fund his endeavors. Shawn, a budding creative writer, has never been to a live game and is thrilled to be able to spend his first disposable income on an experience he’s dreamed of his whole life.
Subsequent scenes follow the pair – now best friends – over the next 12 years as they support each other through personal loss and professional goals, punctuated by turning points in James’ career.
I find professional sports culture largely toxic and silly and can’t say I relate to Shawn and Matt’s shared passion. But basketball fans – especially Cavaliers fans – will certainly appreciate the ongoing sports dialogue and references more than I did.
However, like Tipping Point Theatre’s 2025 production of “Halftime with Don,” the play takes a thoughtful look at sports culture, and structuring it around the career of a famous athlete is a clever means to explore deeper topics. James’ departure from and return to Cleveland leads to heated arguments between the two characters, raising questions of loyalty, racism and sports-related self-identity.
While it acknowledges how sports can be joyful and bonding, Shawn and Matt’s interest is obsessive and borderline problematic. Both are so invested in basketball – particularly James’ career – their profound disappointments in his decisions lead them to question whether the emotional fluctuations are worth it, which then leads to questions of self-identity. At one point, Shawn compares sports to a cult or a religion (YES!) and examines the amount of time and money he’s invested over his lifetime.
It also raises questions of loyalty vs. following one’s dreams, with parallels between James’ move to Miami and Matt and Shawn’s own career choices, which tests their friendship.
“King James” is also a rare depiction of a close male friendship. Society pressures men to be self-reliant and stoic, often resulting in their inability to understand or process emotions. It’s refreshing to see a platonic, male relationship where men are able to open up and look to each other for emotional support, sharing things that go beyond a stereotypical relationship based on sports.
While I didn’t leave the play with a greater appreciation for sports culture, “King James” is a welcome opportunity to examine its significance in our lives – especially for men.
