Rajiv Joseph's nuanced two hander about sports fandom and friendship premiered at Chicago's famous Steppenwolf Theatre in 2022, and is now among the most performed new plays in the US.

With its gentle humour, lightly worn politics, and bittersweet take on male bonding, you can see why it works in a country where sport is akin to religion.

For its UK premiere, Alice Hamilton's intimate, understated production brings out the symmetry between two basketball fans' up and down bromance and the career of sporting legend LeBron James.

On a simple set, an empty bar and Matt's family shop, the pair tussle over the compromises and bereavements of growing older, and ask why they yoke their emotional wellbeing to the career of a professional athlete.

King James runs at Hampstead Theatre until January 4th.King James runs at Hampstead Theatre until January 4th. (Image: Mark Douet)

The scenes neatly mirror the four periods of a game; first James' rookie year for his hometown team in 2003, when down-on-his-luck barman Matt (Sam Mitchell) is selling his Cleveland Cavaliers season ticket to budding writer Shawn (Enyi Okoronkwo).

For white privileged Matt, bankrolled in his failed endeavours by loving parents, fandom is about the ritual of attending games - the only time he felt close to this dad.

For Black scholarship student Shawn it's the dream of seeing his idols live for the first time.

The pair bond over their love of the game, and become season ticket buddies, sharing their outrage in 2010, when 'King James' abandons Cleveland on live TV to 'take my talents to South Beach'.

It's clear the pair - who fist bump instead of hugging - discuss more sport than emotion as Shawn springs the shock that he too is off - to New York.

By 2014 James - and Shawn - have returned to Cleveland, Matt's bar business is booming, and he's financially supporting his friend's bid to make it in L.A.

But a racially loaded phrase - that James should have 'known his place' - sparks a rift which is touchingly repaired in a final scene when the 'Cavs' and James, have ended decades of heartbreak by winning the 2016 NBA championship.

My basketball loving teen understood every sporting reference and male friendship ritual - while I was just glad I had educated myself about the sport before the show.

But although the specifics are basketball, this could easily be footie buddies fretting about the homegrown talent signing for Real Madrid.

From an underpowered start, Mitchell and Okoronkwo grow into their roles over the 100 minute run time and their touching reunion feels earned - as the affectionate debate over whether James or Michael Jordan is the GOAT resumes.

King James runs at Hampstead Theatre until January 4th.