King in Luanda: LeBron Turns Up for E1 Series Angola GP

Hollywood star Will Smith was also present in Luanda

LeBron James wows crowds in Luanda at E1 Series Grand Prix

Electric boats, celebrity owners, and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer in the crowd. The E1 Series brought its futuristic RaceBirds to Luanda for the first time.

E1 series makes history in Luanda as LeBron James thrills Angolan crowds...

NBA legend LeBron James thrilled fans as he interacted with young basketball players on the sidelines of the E1 Series Fan Experience in Luanda, Angola on Sunday.  

James is in Angola with his Team AlUla in the latest stop on the UIM E1 World Championship, the first time the series has raced in Southern Africa.

At 41, James is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer after passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 2023. He’s also a 4-time NBA champion, winning titles with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013, the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016, and the Los Angeles Lakers in 2020.

He spent time with the young players, chatting with them and watching as they went through drills on court.

LeBron James in Luanda backing his E1 Series team

James recently joined the Philadelphia 76ers for the 2026/27 season, his 24th year in the league.

Now in its third season, E1 is continuing to grow. The series made its Southern Africa debut in Luanda, and it’s only the second time it’s raced on the continent after Lagos hosted a round in 2025.

 

The championship has a star-studded list of team owners. They include NFL legend Tom Brady, tennis icon Rafael Nadal, cricket superstar Virat Kohli, former Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba, and Hollywood actor Will Smith, who was also in Luanda for the weekend.

Hollywood star Will Smith was also present in Luanda

Team Brady have dominated so far, winning the title in both 2024 and 2025. They’re top of the standings again this year with drivers Emma Kimiläinen and Sam Coleman behind the wheel.

The E1 Series is an all-electric powerboat championship. Teams race futuristic RaceBird boats on short, tight courses set just off the shoreline. Each team runs two pilots, one male and one female, who split driving duties across the weekend.

The RaceBirds are built for speed, agility and close racing. Qualifying sets the grid, then a format of heats and knockout rounds decides who makes it through to the final.