Watch CBS News

Newton Teen Says LeBron James 'Made My Night'

NEWTON (CBS) – LeBron James has won over a lot of Celtics fans after he took a moment to greet a Newton teen who was honored at the TD Garden Tuesday night.

Aaron Miller doesn't have the use of his right arm but can still shoot a basketball. The 16-year-old suffered a brain bleed as an infant that caused significant damage to the left side of his brain. Doctors weren't sure he'd ever walk.

After undergoing thousands of hours of surgery, he now plays basketball and golf for Newton North. Recently, he was named MVP of a Greater Boston Basketball League.

LeBron-Aaron-Miller
LeBron James gives his sneakers to Newton North student Aaron Miller after the Cavaliers beat the Celtics at TD Garden. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

He was named a "Hero Among Us" at Tuesday night's Celtics home game. It came with an honor on the JumboTron during the second quarter.

"We walked on the court and then they introduced me and everyone was screaming," Aaron says.

But it's what happened next that has Aaron buzzing.

Lebron James surprises Special Olympian in Boston | Cavs at Celtics 12/15/15 by FOX Sports on YouTube

"It was LeBron James. And I almost melted on the parquet," he says.

LeBron James, who had just watched the ceremony, came over to Aaron and gave him a hug and a pat on the head.

"What he did made my night," Aaron says.

LeBron wasn't done. After the game, he specifically asked for Aaron.

"And he was like, 'come here' and gave me his shoes, and I couldn't stop smiling until I fell asleep," Aaron said.

"I saw his story and it's like, I felt like I was a part of him," James said after the game. "I was just showing my respect and gave him my shoes."

Even as a Celtics fan, Aaron now counts LeBron among his favorites.

When WBZ's Liam Martin asked Aaron if he would be wearing the shoes, he said, "No, because I'm a size 11, and if I wore them, I'd be wearing like clown shoes."

Big shoes for a kid with a big heart.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.