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A DRAMATISTS PLAY SERVICE TITLE
Full-Length Play, Drama / 2m
Rajiv Joseph
“King” LeBron James’ years playing in Cleveland bring promise, prosperity and renewal to the city, while his twelve-year reign also unites Shawn and Matt in an unlikely friendship founded on basketball.
The fortunes of the Cavaliers are about to change: The great LeBron James, the biggest star in basketball, is coming to Cleveland. But when superfan Matt’s latest business venture turns sour, he has to sell his most prized possession – his pair of Cavs season tickets. The buyer, Shawn, just sold his first short story – so watching his team in the flesh for the first time will be a sweet reward. Now just to figure out what to do with that second ticket. Thrown together by chance, the next 12 years prove as defining, dramatic, and sometimes heart-breaking for Matt and Shawn as they do for the Cavs – and for “King” LeBron James. Multi-award-winner Rajiv Joseph delivers a clever comedy that is an intimate exploration of the place that sports occupy in our lives and relationships.
King James premiered in 2022 in co-productions at Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago and Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. Directed by Kenny Leon, the production featured Glenn Davis, Khloe Janel and Chris Perfetti.
SHAWN – Black, ages 21, 27, 31 and 33. MATT – White, same ages.
Cleveland Heights, Ohio. 2004, 2010, 2014 and 2016.
“Funny and genuinely touching.” – Time Out
“A touching examination of male friendship and the powerful social currents beneath it.” – The New York Times
“Joseph has created one of the funniest and most moving plays about friendship in years... Basketball fans will love Joseph’s insider-y jokes. Even if you don’t follow the game all that much, King James is a must-see.” – TheaterMania
ON BREAKING CHARACTER
Rajiv Joseph in Five Plays9 April 2026
King James – Opening Night Responses
Playwright Rajiv Joseph on King James
King James – Manhattan Theatre Club Trailer
Scene from King James at Manhattan Theatre Club
King James – Hampstead Theatre Trailer
King James in 60 Seconds – Cleveland Play House
Rajiv Joseph’s play Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo was a 2010 Pulitzer Prize finalist for drama and also awarded a grant for Outstanding New American Play by the National Endowment for the Arts. His play Guards at the Taj was a 2016 Obie winner for Best New American Play and ...