LeBron James might have turned ‘Taco Tuesday’ into one of the most popular phrases in sports, but according to former teammate Channing Frye, that idea was originally his.
Speaking on The Richard Jefferson Show, Frye playfully accused LeBron of stealing the phrase after hearing him use it during their time together with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
“He didn’t even start that. I did… Remember we were on the plane? You brought it up. I’m triggered. On the airplane, I would always say, if they have options, ‘Do you want a burrito, this, or this?’ I always get the burrito. He goes, ‘Channing, you always over there eating burritos.'”
“And I go, ‘I know because it’s Taco Tuesday ’cause I’m from Phoenix.’ And he goes, ‘Oh, it’s Taco Tuesday.’ And he stole my s**t. We’re from Arizona. He’s from Ohio. They don’t have no tacos. All of a sudden, now he comes up with Taco Tuesday.”
Channing Frye says LeBron James stole “Taco Tuesday” from him and made a brand deal off it
“Do you remember when Bron started the Taco Tuesday? He didn’t even start that. I did”
“On the airplane, I would always say I always get the burrito. He goes, ‘Ted, you always over there… pic.twitter.com/OFo5s1uXuM
— Arslan (@0xarslan) July 18, 2026
Beginning in 2018, LeBron started posting energetic Instagram videos every Tuesday featuring himself and his family enjoying tacos. His shouts of ‘Taco Tuesday’ quickly became a viral sensation, which led to countless memes, merchandise, and videos on social media.
Many fans had assumed that LeBron had coined it himself. In reality, ‘Taco Tuesday’ has existed for decades as a popular restaurant promotion across the United States.
LeBron’s influence became so massive that in 2019, his company, LBH Trademarks LLC, even tried to trademark the phrase. But the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office rejected that application, saying that ‘Taco Tuesday’ was a common phrase already widely used by the public.
LeBron even partnered with Taco Bell in 2023 to challenge Taco John’s longstanding trademark on that phrase. Eventually, Taco John gave up its trademark rights, making Taco Tuesday freely available for everyone.
Whether Frye deserves credit for creating this movement is impossible to know, but that story fits the playful relationship the former Cavaliers teammates have maintained long after retirement.
Even if Frye had the idea, LeBron turned ‘Taco Tuesday’ into a global phenomenon. His weekly family videos became a regular on NBA social media, with fans, celebrities, and even other athletes joining in.
In the end, Frye wasn’t upset about the situation. His comments were said with laughter, and the story shows the chemistry shared by one of the NBA’s most loved championship teams.
Still, according to Frye, every time fans think of LeBron screaming “Taco Tuesday,” they should remember where it all began: with a burrito on a Cavaliers team flight and a teammate from Arizona.
