Phelps retired again after the Rio Olympics, and he had more free time to enjoy life. When the Cleveland Cavaliers visited Phoenix on the 9th, Phelps personally came to the Suns home to watch the game, and his goal was to watch James, Irving and other NBA stars play.
After the game, Phelps personally waited outside the Cavaliers locker room, where he talked for a long time with the likes of James, Owen and Loew. During the game, James's interaction with Phelps can also be seen everywhere. James made a dunk during the game, and then he reached out to the sideline where Phelps was sitting, as if to say, "This dunk is for you." ”
James explained his actions after the game, "Just realize that great people are coming, pay tribute to greatness." ”
Interestingly, that's why Phelps came to the scene to watch, he came to witness the greatness of James. "I talked to the kids sitting next to me for a while, and we said different things." Phelps said, "No matter what sport it is, great athletes always know how to get the job done. You can take James as a good example, no matter what, even in the fourth quarter, he will ensure victory, you know very well. ”
Phelps is one of the greatest athletes in Olympic history, having won 28 Olympic medals, including 23, coincidentally James' jersey number is number 23.
James looked at Phelps' position twice, once for the dunk and once when he hit a major three-pointer. "When he hits a three-pointer, it's funny to look at it again," Phelps said, "he really plays great, it's always a pleasure to watch them play, and I've watched Curry play here." ”
As a member of the U.S. Olympic team at the same time in the past few Olympic Games, Phelps and James have a good personal relationship. Phelps won 6 gold medals at the 2004 Athens Olympics, while James and the U.S. men's basketball team regrettably won bronze medals. Four years later, at the Beijing Olympics and the 2012 London Olympics, James and the United States both won gold medals, while Phelps won 8 gold and 4 gold medals respectively. In addition to James, Phelps and Irving also have a good relationship, they met at the Rio Olympics, Irving won his first Olympic gold medal in Rio, and Phelps won 5 gold.
Phelps has lived in Arizona since retiring, not far from Phoenix, but he hasn't seen the NBA live many times. Only when a great player like James visits, Phelps will come to the scene to watch, as the two said, they are here to witness the greatness.