A Play Exploring Love, Forgiveness Through Basketball – King James

Apr 8, 2025 by Two Sues On the Aisle

By Two Sues on the Aisle, Susie Rosenbluth and Sue Weston

Great works of art explore love and forgiveness. These themes align with King James, a drama written by Rajiv Joseph, which we saw at The George Street Playhouse. This two-man show parallels the career of basketball great LeBron James and the friendship of two Cleveland fans, Shawn and Matt.

It is set in a suburb, Cleveland Heights, where Joseph grew up and was inspired by his friendships. “We have this language of sports, this rivalry between teams and our opinions of players that get very fierce. There’s so much of one’s identity; one’s upbringing, family and friends connected to the performance of a team… that sense of it, the sense of belonging somewhere.”

The play depicts a non-judgmental friendship that extends beyond race and class and a support system that can weather time despite the bumps and twists along the way.

Photo Credit – T. Charles Erickson

An American Drama

King James is a contemporary American drama that explores interpersonal relationships and male bonding. Shawn (Blake Morris) and Matt (Doug Harris) cultivate a friendship cloaked in the language of sports centered on their local team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and their hometown hero, LeBron James. They are die-hard fans who live, breathe, and fantasize about basketball.

The play begins with Matt trying to sell season tickets in LeBron’s rookie year and ends in 2016 when LeBron’s block against the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Championship ends a 52-year losing streak. Spanning 12 years framed by LeBron’s career, it shows how the friends’ relationships and careers ebbed and flowed.

Despite the basketball references, you don’t need to be a sports fan to enjoy the performance. King James is simply a heart-warming bromance.

Photo Credit – T. Charles Erickson

Putting Differences Aside

During the show, Matt and Shawn mature from adolescents (age 21) to professionals (age 33), each realizing his dream. For Matt, it was owning an establishment on the East End; for Shawn, it was becoming a writer. Their transformations disrupt their friendship, creating competition.

Shawn maintained close contact with Matt’s family. They advised him to attend graduate school and later gave him a job in the family’s curio shop. Matt was jealous of Shawn’s relationship with his family and upset by James’s decision to leave the Cavs (which coincided with Shawn’s leaving Cleveland for grad school).

Matt repeats the phrase “this is the problem with America” using it to explain why things between them have changed. When Shawn accuses Matt of being racist from an offhand comment that James “should have known better,” meaning that he should not have left his loyal Cleveland fans, their relationship ended. They reconnect after James returns to Cleveland, winning the NBA championship. The show is a powerful display of the depth of friendship and loyalty.

King James shows our ability to forgive perceived transgressions, including leaving Cleveland. It underscores the ability to return home and the importance of friendship. James had disappointed his hometown fans by leaving Cleveland, just as Matt was disappointed when Shawn left to become a screenwriter. They realize you can follow your dream without abandoning the ones you love.

King James

A Great Performance

The acting was incredible – Blake Morris and Doug Harris had great chemistry. Their love for the game, built on admiration for LeBron James, was palpable. They appear to age, from carefree youths to young men disillusioned by their career choices, before our eyes. They finally reunite as friends, leaving us with a sense of optimism.

We were initially surprised that LeBron James appears only in game clips, which added excitement for basketball fans while providing dates and context.

The scenery was phenomenal, believable, and detailed. Beginning with the wine bar where Matt worked and switching to the curio shop complete with stuffed armadillo, providing a credible connection for the audience. Even now, days later, we can picture the setting as though we had just been there.

While Joseph does not hint what is next for this pair, we believe they will support each other’s dreams, whatever path they choose. The boys’ playful competition, bonding over basketball remind us of the power of friendship.

Two Sues on the Aisle bases its ratings on how many challahs (1-5) it pays to buy (rather than make) to see the play, show, film, book, or exhibit being reviewed.

King James at The George Street Playhouse received a 3 Challah rating

Running Time: 2 hours and 15 minutes