National Basketball Association

Gatorade trolls James as 'LeBroning' takes Internet by storm

Published Jun. 6, 2014 11:08 a.m. ET

foxsports

Gatorade sure can hold a grudge. Miami Heat star LeBron James went down with cramps Thursday night after the air conditioning went out late in Game 1 of the NBA Finals.

James was relegated to the bench for the latter part of the fourth quarter, and the San Antonio Spurs responded by torching the Heat in that final period en route to a 110-95 win.

Naturally, some social media jokesters began tweeting at Gatorade’s official Twitter account, asking where the sports drink was in King James’ moment of need.

That’s when things got interesting. You see, LeBron endorses Powerade, Gatorade’s primary competitor. So, when the mentions began flooding in, the folks behind Gatorade’s account went on the offensive.

Alas, the Associated Press reported Gatorade apologized Friday for the tweets posted from the company's account. Maybe because it looked like James was actually drinking their magic anti-cramping potion on the bench.

.@Gatorade @LazyBumDrew Hmmm... are you sure @KingJames wasn't drinking Gatorade last night?? #UpgradeYourSportsDrink pic.twitter.com/UwGZE3qaH5
— BODYARMOR SuperDrink (@DrinkBODYARMOR) June 6, 2014

@LazyBumDrew we were waiting on the sidelines, but he prefers to drink something else.
— Gatorade (@Gatorade) June 6, 2014

@CarmichaelDave This is awkward....We don't sponsor him. #fail
— Gatorade (@Gatorade) June 6, 2014

@ryanbkoo The person cramping wasn't our client. Our athletes can take the heat.
— Gatorade (@Gatorade) June 6, 2014

@CarmichaelDave Better go stock up Lime Cucumber before Game 2. Can't cramp up if you want to tweet during it.
— Gatorade (@Gatorade) June 6, 2014

@OfficiallyRandy Thanks, Randy. We've been hydrating all day. We never cramp.
— Gatorade (@Gatorade) June 6, 2014

With a game this hot, we're right at home. #WinFromWithin #NBAFinals
— Gatorade (@Gatorade) June 6, 2014

If getting burned by a sports drink manufacturer isn’t bad enough, James’ cramping was also given the full meme treatment.

#Lebroning pic.twitter.com/SWf0rL0HkF
— Felicia Obregon (@felicia_AOII22) June 6, 2014

#Lebroning #GoSpursGo pic.twitter.com/utNUAZUYHf
— Jaime (@MetalMulisha210) June 6, 2014

@DarkKnight_1 @SWorthy @TonyRoman10 #Lebroning before we start 4x4s at Farmingdale! pic.twitter.com/YXIp5vBqy1
— Niki Tonnessen (@nikitee94) June 6, 2014