Rihanna And LeBron James: Why Singer Is The NBA Star's Superfan

Despite the devasting losses that the Cleveland Cavaliers have had to accept throughout the NBA Finals, LeBron James is still living the good life. James is currently one of the top players in the NBA: He's likable, he has a beautiful wife and kids and he has found a vocal and loving superfan in mega-popstar Rihanna.

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"It doesn’t matter, bitch," Rihanna said when defending James after the first NBA Finals Game this season. "The king is still the king."

At the NBA Finals on June 1, Rihanna notably stood up and bowed down to the Cavalier's player. Nonetheless, her love for the famous baller doesn't end there.

Rihanna is a huge sports fan. She has been pictured attending the World Cup, Lakers games and in memorabilia from several sports teams (e.g. hockey team Ottawa Senators). Yet nothing tops the singer's passion for all things related to King James.

While some of us may have just caught on to the fandom, Rihanna's love for James didn't blossom overnight. How did this all start? How far does the fandom go back?

International Business Times unearthed the earliest beginnings of Rihanna's appreciation for James, dating all the way back to the early 2000s.

According to Complex, she has publicly supported James since 2006. When he played for the Miami Heat, the "Needed Me" singer sat courtside at many of the athlete's games. In 2012, she was even there to congratulate James when he nabbed his first ring. The singer deemed this milestone in his career as "well deserved."

The "Work" singer also showed her support for the king on Instagram. She captioned the photo she posted of the player by saying: "Look at the KING! So proud! #priceless."

Generally, people are devoted to certain teams and they won't deviate from that. That's not the case for bad girl RiRi.

Read: Kevin Durant vs. LeBron James: Is KD Proving He's As Good As King James In The NBA Finals?

The moment James announced his return to Cleveland in 2014, the singer followed suit. As many of us saw this past week, Rihanna was front and center at the NBA Finals supporting the famed basketballer as he hit the court with the Cavaliers. Therefore, it's safe to say that the only team she supports is King James.

With rumors circulating about James potentially leaving the Cavaliers for either the Lakers or the Clippers, the world should prepare for Rihanna to also follow in his path. She will always have his back.

Rihanna's fangirl ways are adorable at first glance, including her decision to shout-out James in her 2015 mega-hit "Bitch Better Have My Money." However, we're curious as to what James' wife — Savannah Brinson — thinks about some of the singer's more bold declarations. Oddly, Brinson has not discussed this subject matter publicly.

Back in 2016, Rihanna famously posted a picture on her Instagram of herself in a bikini with James' jersey number — 23 — plastered on her belly with sunscreen.

A month after the questionable bikini-clad picture, she then took to Instagram again to post a picture of her admiration for James. In this picture, she referred to him as "bae."

Now, this fandom isn't completely one-sided.

Back in 2014, James shared his love for the pop songstress on Twitter alongside fellow singer Shakira. His tweet was in reference to the Rihanna and Shakira's collaboration on "Can't Remember to Forget You." Rihanna was featured on the remixed single.

"They should have kept that to themselves," James said on Twitter about the music video debut of the duo's collab. "Not fair to mankind."

Naturally, Rihanna responded with "The KING."

Long live the desperado fangirling efforts of bad girl RiRi.