Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr. channels LeBron James and Trae Young with home run celebrations
There's nothing like smashing a home run out of the ballpark in MLB. So when a player manages to do so, it's only right he celebrates however he sees fit. Some hitters simply jog around the bases; others might emphatically flip the bat. For Atlanta Braves star Ronald Acuna Jr., he opted to copy two NBA stars' notable celebrations.
After smashing a leadoff home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Acuna replicated Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James' chalk toss in the dugout. James has performed the iconic routine for the majority of his NBA career.
King James saw Acuna's gesture and praised the Braves outfielder on social media.
This wasn't the first time Acuna took a page out of James' celebration book. On May 7, he unleashed the 37-year old's' "Silencer" after a home run versus the visiting Milwaukee Brewers. James used the celebratory dance regularly during his time with theMiami Heat. Atlanta won the game 3-2, and James made sure to commend Acuna on acing the choreography of the move.
James wasn't the only hoops star Acuna honored with his celebrations. Following a leadoff dinger against the visitingOakland Athleticson Tuesday, the Braves star hit the "Ice Trae" move, a nod to Atlanta Hawks point guard Trae Young. Acuna said he was going to use Young's move after Sunday's win at the Colorado Rockies.
Young gave Acuna a shoutout on Twitter, adding that the Braves outfielder is "too cold."
Acuna has shown his affinity for Young well before Tuesday's home run celebration. On April 28, his first game back from tearing his right ACL in July 2021, Acuna arrived at the Braves ballpark wearing Young's Hawks Nike City Edition jersey.
Acuna hit his 25th leadoff homer Saturday, becoming the first player in MLB history to reach the mark before turning 25 years old, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
