Wednesday night was a historic one as UConn Huskies women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma secured his 1,2,17th win, becoming the winningest coach in college basketball history.
However, what the program did to celebrate had fans talking about Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James. Following UConn’s 85-41 win over the Fairleigh Dickinson Knights, a game that saw guard Azzi Fudd make her season debut after missing the last year with an injury, the Huskies brought out an actual goat to celebrate.
Obviously, this was a nod to the acronym GOAT (Greatest of All Time), representing Auriemma’s massive achievement with his latest win.
As the 40th-year coach was making his postgame speech, the team walked out the leashed goat on the red carpet, to which Auriemma could only laugh. He also received a plaque that read, “Honorary members of the international order of old GOATs.”
LeBron is widely considered the greatest basketball player of all time. The argument has pretty much come down to him and former Chicago Bulls superstar Michael Jordan. Still, when the goat came out to greet Auriemma at midcourt on Wednesday night, many fans couldn’t help but make their jokes about the four-time NBA MVP.
“Why is LeBron in UConn??” one fan asked. “Why they brought out LeBron to a womens college basketball game,” wrote another. “They put LeBron on a leash??!!” commented a third. “Bron looks cute with his hair grown out,” wrote a fourth. “Lebron don’t wanna be there,” chimed in a fifth. “LEGOAT,” joked a sixth.
LeBron is considered the NBA GOAT for many reasons. In his prestigious career, which includes time with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and now the Lakers, the forward has won four NBA championships, winning the Finals MVP in each. He has also been named to 20 All-NBA squads and six All-Defensive teams. All this on his way to scoring 40,803 career points, the most in NBA history.
Auriemma has reached GOAT status through his long Hall of Fame tenure with the Huskies not only for his new record but for his 11 national championships and eight Naismith Coach of the Year awards. He and LeBron have etched themselves into basketball royalty.
