LeBron James played in his first game since breaking his nose one week ago, and he donned a protective mask that made look like a hero or villain, depending on who you asked. Regardless of James's alignment, the mask was cool as hell.
Though James complained about the gear being a nuisance in practice, it didn't seem to affect him against the Knicks. James had 31 points and was 13 of 19 from the field as the Heat stomped New York for a 108-82 victory. He threw down a couple of dunks among his points, and yes, they looked much better with the mask.
It seems unlikely that James will follow Rip Hamilton and keep the mask even after his nose heals—his endorsing face is too valuable to be covered—but let's enjoy LeMask while it lasts.
Photo: Marc Serota/Getty Images Sport