LeBron James Sends Letter of Support to Teen with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

Although Emanuel Duncan views LeBron James as a hero, the Cleveland Cavaliers superstar knows the reality.

Duncan is the real inspiration.

Last month, Gregg Doyel of the Indianapolis Star put together a great feature on Duncan, a teenager who has Duchenne muscular dystrophy and is in a wheelchair as a result. For those who are unfamiliar with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, it is a disease that leads to muscle degeneration. 

In Doyel's feature, it is made clear that even though the disease results in a short life expectancy, Duncan, 19, is planning for the future. In fact, he wants to be a football coach. He is currently a student-coach at Lawrence Central High School in Indianapolis.

Duncan has made a bucket list, however. He's already been to ESPN's campus in Bristol, Connecticut, but there's another sports item on his list. 

He wants to meet the King, according to Doyel:

"

My bucket list is to meet LeBron. That’s the one thing I want to do. Meet LeBron James. That’s my role model. He inspires me to do everything. To be a good person, to put other people first, to live your life and do what makes you happy. If I meet LeBron James, that would make my day. I wouldn’t ask for anything.

"

Well, James apparently heard about Duncan's admiration for him. The four-time NBA MVP responded by sending the teen a letter of encouragement, along with a jersey and some other items.

That's just a tremendous gesture by James.

The Indiana Pacers host the Cavaliers on Feb. 1. It's probably a safe bet that Duncan will go to the game, and let's hope  he gets the opportunity to meet James.

[Gregg Doyel]