Former NBA forward Mirza Teletovic has revealed a story that paints LeBron James in a light few fans may have seen before, as the only star who reached out when his career was on the brink.
In a post on Instagram, the Bosnian sharpshooter detailed how James extended an offer to bring him to Cleveland after he suffered a life-threatening pulmonary embolism in 2015, at a time when no other team was willing to take the risk.
“Few people know who King James the Gentleman is. After my pulmonary embolism, when no one wanted to sign me, he called my agent and offered me to play with him in Cleveland.”
For context, Teletovic’s battle with the condition was no minor setback. A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot, usually originating from deep veins in the legs or pelvis, travels to the lungs, blocking a pulmonary artery and restricting blood flow.
It can be fatal if untreated, and for an athlete, it raises major long-term health concerns. In January 2015, while playing for the Brooklyn Nets, Teletovic was hospitalized and diagnosed with multiple blood clots in his lungs. He was immediately ruled out for the rest of the season and placed on blood thinners, his career suddenly in jeopardy.
At the time, the 6’9” forward was known as one of the league’s better floor-spacing big men, having carved out a role as a stretch four. Born in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Teletovic played his way up through European leagues before arriving in the NBA in 2012 with the Brooklyn Nets.
He spent three seasons in Brooklyn, averaging 8.2 points and 3.7 rebounds in 17.6 minutes per game, while shooting over 36% from three. His willingness to fire from deep without hesitation quickly became his trademark.
The 2015 offseason should have been one of uncertainty, yet James’s gesture provided a rare lifeline. While Teletovic ultimately didn’t sign with Cleveland, he landed with the Phoenix Suns, where he had the best statistical year of his career.
In the 2015–16 season, he averaged 12.2 points in just 21.3 minutes per game, while hitting 39.3% of his threes. He also set an NBA record for most three-pointers made off the bench in a single season, with 181.
After his breakout year in Phoenix, Teletovic signed a three-year, $30 million deal with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2016. Unfortunately, his career was again cut short in December 2017 when doctors discovered more blood clots in his lungs, forcing him to retire in 2018 at just 32 years old.
He finished his NBA career with averages of 8.1 points and 3.2 rebounds per game over 324 appearances, shooting 37.4% from beyond the arc.
That James reached out in 2015 is all the more remarkable considering that the two had history; Teletovic once committed a hard foul on LeBron in 2014 that sparked a brief confrontation. Despite that moment, James was willing to put competitive memories aside to offer help when no one else would.
For Teletovic, the act cemented LeBron’s legacy not just as one of the greatest players ever, but as a player who looks after his peers. In his words, “King James the Gentleman” wasn’t just a nickname; it was a reflection of character.
