A Los Angeles Lakers fan is reportedly suing LeBron James, claiming he was “duped” by the star’s recent “Decision 2.0” teaser, which turned out to be an advertisement for Hennessy cognac.
According to TMZ, the frustrated supporter, identified as Andrew Garcia, is seeking $856(Ksh 110,826) in damages.
The lawsuit argues that the cryptic teaser, which many fans interpreted as an imminent retirement announcement, caused the value of his purchased tickets to plummet after the true nature of the “decision” was revealed.
The controversy began when LeBron James, currently preparing for the Los Angeles Lakers in his 23rd NBA season, posted a short, dramatic clip online.
The video, captioned “The decision of all decisions. October 7th,” heavily mirrored his infamous 2010 announcement where he left the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat, an event known simply as “The Decision.”
The intentional nostalgia and cryptic language led to widespread speculation that James was about to announce his retirement or a major career move.
The initial ad that first fueled retirement rumours was posted on Monday, October 6, 2025, and the actual announcement on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, was an ad for a new Hennessy collaboration.
Garcia claims that based on the retirement speculation, he immediately purchased two tickets for the Lakers’ final home game of the regular season, anticipating they would be historical artifacts marking James’s farewell.
He purchased two tickets for $432.83(Ksh 56,038) apiece, and the total claim for damages is $856.66(Ksh 110,826). The fan claims the tickets became “worthless” after James confirmed he was not retiring.
In the legal filing, Garcia is seeking damages due to “fraud, deception, misrepresentation, and any and all basis of legal recovery.”
“I wouldn’t have purchased it if he wasn’t going to retire. Plain and simple.”
The ad revealed James was launching a limited-edition collaboration with the liquor brand, a partnership that began some time ago. James’ “Second Decision” was to take his talents to Hennessy V.S.O.P., a phrase mirroring his “taking my talents to South Beach” line from 2010.
James has two known Hennessy collaborations Hennessy V.S. (Very Special) and Hennessy V.S.O.P. (Very Superior Old Pale)
The campaign was widely criticised by fans who felt misled by the dramatic buildup, highlighting the fine line between creative marketing and consumer frustration.
