11 Years Ago: Lance Stephenson Blew In LeBron James Ear During The Eastern Conference Finals
Eleven years ago, one of the most peculiar moments in NBA playoff history unfolded during Game 5 of the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals.
With the Indiana Pacers battling the Miami Heat and their Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, and Chris Bosh, Lance Stephenson delivered a move that has since become legendary—not for its basketball brilliance, but for its sheer audacity and hilarity.
The Pacers, facing elimination and down 3-1 in the series, were giving everything they had to extend their season.
Known for his fiery personality and pesky defense, Stephenson was tasked with guarding LeBron James, arguably the best player in the world at the time.
The stakes were sky-high, and tensions were boiling over.
It was during this game that Stephenson, standing next to James on the court, leaned in and blew lightly into LeBron’s ear.
This wasn’t a shove, trash talk, or even a sly elbow. It was a puff of air designed to mess with The King’s focus.
Years later, Stephenson explained the rationale behind his unusual tactic.
Speaking candidly, he admitted, “I was really trying to get him mad, really trying to win the game, get him unfocused. I was trying anything.”
The act was pure Lance Stephenson—not calculated, but instinctive and brimming with the kind of eccentric energy he brought to every matchup.
The truly surprising part? It worked, at least for that game.
The Pacers won 93-90 to stave off elimination, forcing a Game 6.
While most fans laughed at the tactic, it showed how far Stephenson was willing to go to gain even the tiniest psychological edge.
LeBron James and Dwayne Wade laughed about it after the game:
Lance messed with LeBron during the game as much as he possibly could. Watch below:
The incident immediately became iconic. Memes, GIFs, and internet commentary exploded, cementing the scene as one of the most replayed moments in NBA history.
Even LeBron himself seemed amused by it, maintaining his composure and famously ignoring Stephenson’s antics.
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Fast forward a few years, and the two players ended up as teammates on the Los Angeles Lakers, prompting fans to joke that LeBron must have forgiven all that ear-blowing nonsense.
While it might not have changed the course of the series (the Heat finished off the Pacers in Game 6), the moment lives on as a symbol of the wit and whimsy that make the NBA so fun to watch.
Whether you love Lance Stephenson or just love to see the lighter side of basketball, this moment remains unforgettable.