You’ve seen it. Even if you aren’t a basketball fan, you’ve probably scrolled past that glowing, angelic photo of LeBron James, looking directly into your soul with a grin that could power a small city. It’s usually accompanied by Christina Perri’s soft cover of "You Are My Sunshine." It’s weird. It’s a little bit creepy. But mostly, it’s just hilarious.
The lebron james meme smiling isn’t just one single image anymore. It’s a whole ecosystem of "glazing" (the internet term for over-hyping someone) that has turned the NBA’s all-time leading scorer into a literal celestial body.
Where did the smiling LeBron James meme actually come from?
Most people think this started a few months ago. It didn't. The "Smiling Through It All" photo—the one where LeBron is in a pool, hand on his head, looking up at the sky—is actually ancient in internet years. He posted it to his Instagram story back in February 2018.
The context is actually pretty legendary. Just a day before that photo, Fox News anchor Laura Ingraham famously told LeBron to "shut up and dribble" after he criticized then-President Donald Trump. Instead of a long, angry Twitter thread, LeBron posted that pool selfie with the caption: "Smiling through it all! Can’t believe this my life."
It was a masterclass in being unbothered.
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Fast forward to 2023 and 2024, and the internet dug it back up. But this time, they added a layer of irony that LeBron probably never saw coming. TikTok creators started editing his face onto actual suns, adding lens flares, and playing the "You Are My Sunshine" song. Why? Because the internet decided it wanted to mock the "glazers"—the super-fans who defend LeBron like he’s a deity.
The "Boy Oh Boy" Copypasta
If you’ve seen the meme, you’ve definitely seen the text that goes with it. It’s a paragraph of pure, unadulterated obsession. It usually starts with: “Boy oh boy, LeBron, where do I even begin. LeBron honey, my pookie bear...”
It sounds like a middle school crush diary, and that’s the point. It’s satirical. People are making fun of how much "Bron-sexuals" (as they're often called) love the guy. It’s gotten so big that even the Brooklyn Nets’ official TikTok account joined in, posting a video of LeBron warming up while the crowd "sang" the song to him via a clever edit.
Why the meme is still everywhere in 2026
You’d think a meme about a 41-year-old basketball player would die out. Nope. It’s actually evolved. We now have "LeEvil James," which is a dark, distorted version of the same smiling meme. It’s used when LeBron does something "villainous" on the court or when he's just playing too well for his age.
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Also, his family is in on the joke. In July 2024, his youngest son, Bryce James, recreated the iconic pool photo on his own Instagram. He nailed the pose perfectly. LeBron even shared it on his story with laughing emojis. When the family starts participating, the meme basically becomes immortal.
The Skrilla "6-7" Connection
Lately, the smiling meme has merged with other TikTok trends. Most notably, the "6-7" trend backed by the song "Doot Doot" by rapper Skrilla. People use the smiling LeBron photo as the "reward" at the end of these highlight edits.
It’s a weird way of acknowledging his longevity. The guy has been in the league since 2003. He's seen the rise and fall of Vine, the birth of Instagram, and the total takeover of TikTok. He is, quite literally, a walking meme template.
Understanding the "LeSunshine" Irony
There’s a nuance here that gets lost if you aren't chronically online. The meme is both a tribute and a roast.
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- The Tribute: Real fans use it because LeBron is genuinely doing things at 41 that shouldn't be possible.
- The Roast: Haters use it to mock the fanbases that treat him like a god.
- The Result: Everyone ends up using the same image for different reasons, which is the secret sauce for any viral trend.
If you want to understand the lebron james meme smiling, you have to understand that the internet loves contrast. Taking a 6'9", 250-pound "King" and calling him "pookie bear" while he glows like a Teletubby sun is just peak internet humor.
How to use the LeBron smiling meme correctly
If you’re trying to use this meme in your group chat or on social media, don't overthink it. It's used for:
- Feeling Unbothered: When someone tries to bring you down but you're winning at life.
- Ironic Appreciation: When your friend does something slightly impressive and you want to "glaze" them.
- The "Sunshine" Drop: Using the Christina Perri audio over any photo of LeBron looking happy.
Honestly, the best way to keep up with the lebron james meme smiling is to follow Bryce James or the Lakers’ social media. They’re usually the first to acknowledge when a new variation drops. Whether you love him or hate him, you have to admit: the "Sunshine" edits aren't going anywhere as long as King James is still on the court.
Check out the latest TikTok edits or look for the "LeEvil" variations to see how the meme has shifted into a more "eerie" aesthetic lately—it's a whole different vibe.
Actionable Insight: To track the real-time evolution of this meme, search for "LeBron glazer edits" on TikTok or "LeSunshine" on X. The most recent versions often involve deepfakes or "void" edits that represent the darker "LeEvil" side of the trend.