How Did ‘LeBron James Can’t Believe This Is My Life’ Become a Meme? All About TikTok Trend

Find out how the phrase "LeBron James Can't Believe This Is My Life" turned into a viral TikTok meme, sparking a trend across social media. Discover the origin and impact of this catchy expression.

Updated on Aug 14, 2024  |  11:03 PM IST |  306.9K
Image Courtesy: Twitter
Image Courtesy: Twitter

LeBron James stands out as one of the greatest basketball players of all time, and his NBA career showcases his extraordinary talent, work ethic, and impact on the game. By 2024, he has become the NBA's all-time leading scorer, surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's previous record of 38,387 points in 2023.

His impressive career includes four NBA championships, four NBA Finals MVP awards, and four regular-season MVP awards. LeBron's consistent excellence is also evident in his 20 NBA All-Star selections and 19 All-NBA selections, with 13 being First Team.

Beyond his achievements in basketball, LeBron James has also become a meme phenomenon, partly due to his strong social media presence and the reactions he provokes from fans and critics. The "You Are My Sunshine" meme, which pokes fun at overly enthusiastic fans, gained popularity on TikTok in early 2023 and has since evolved into various parodies, including "LeEvil James."

This article will explore the famous "LeBron James Can't Believe This Is My Life" meme, examining its meaning and origin.

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The meme "Can't Believe This Is My Life" or "LeBron Smiling," also known as "Smiling Through It All," originated from a photo of LeBron James smiling with his hand on his forehead while standing in a pool. The image, captioned "Smiling through it all, can't believe this my life," was shared by LeBron on his Instagram story.

It is believed that he posted this in response to Fox News anchor Laura Ingraham's comment telling him to "Shut up and dribble" after he criticized Donald Trump in early 2018. Over the years, the image has become a popular reaction meme and a versatile template.

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The origin of this meme traces back to February 16, 2018, when Laura Ingraham criticized LeBron's anti-Trump comments by saying, "Shut up and dribble." Later that day, LeBron responded by posting a story on his Instagram account, @KingJames, showing himself in a pool, smiling up at the sun, with the caption, "Smiling through it all, can't believe this my life."


LeBron James has become a meme sensation, largely due to his significant presence on social media and countless memorable moments during his NBA career. Iconic images, such as his "Smiling Through It All" selfie and various reactions during games, serve as endless material for meme creation. 

Moments like the "banana boat" vacation photo and his expressions during crucial game moments have further cemented his status as a meme icon. Fans often share and remix these moments, adding to the vast collection of LeBron memes online.

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About The Author

Rakesh Mehra is a passionate sports content writer at Pinkvilla, dedicated to bringing the thrill of the game to

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