Dodgers' Roki Sasaki Discusses Incredible Moment Meeting Lakers' LeBron James

Jan 21, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki, center, attends the game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Washington Wizards at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

On Jan. 17, Roki Sasaki announced he would be signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Just a few days later, he was being greeted by LeBron James at a Los Angeles Lakers game.

“I was really happy and shocked," Sasaki told MLB Network about the meeting through interpreter Will Ireton. "He was very welcoming with open arms.”

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New Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki is courtside at the Lakers vs Wizards game tonight.

LeBron James made sure to greet LA’s future ace.

🎥: @ESPNLosAngeles
pic.twitter.com/LC0mYKdkpF

— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) January 22, 2025

Roki Sasaki idolized Masahiro Tanaka growing up 👏

He talks about meeting LeBron James and his recent conversations with Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto since his decision.@Dodgers | #MLBTonight pic.twitter.com/bJYkQNMVXI

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 23, 2025

James wasn't the only player to speak with Sasaki, who had a courtside seat at Crypto.com Arena. The Japanese phenom also got to talk with fellow Japanese star Rui Hachimura.

Awesome to see Roki Sasaki and Lakers Japanese wing Rui Hachimura throwing up the LA sign together.

Hachimura has also flicked up with Shohei Ohtani at a game before.

LA is a Dodgers & Lakers town 🙏

Via @DanWoikeSports pic.twitter.com/nCoYOmaRaI

— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) January 22, 2025

On Wednesday, the Sasaki signing was made official at Dodger Stadium. The introductory press conference was Sasaki's first time speaking to the media as a Dodger.

"I spent the past month both embracing and reflecting on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to choose a place purely based on where I can grow as a player the most," Sasaki said through Ireton. "Every organization helped me in its own way, and it was an incredibly difficult decision to choose just one.

"I had the opportunity to speak to a lot of teams, and they had a lot of appealing features. But overall when I looked at the general consensus, I thought that the Dodgers were at the top.

"I think the No. 1 thing that stood out was the stability of the front office."

Sasaki also shared he didn't prioritizie whether the team had Japanese players throughout his process; however, he expressed his excitement to be teammates with Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

"It wasn't a priority for me, if there was or was not a Japanese player on a team, as I was looking at all the teams," Sasaki said. "Being able to play with Ohtani and Yamamoto, both exceptional players, [I am] really looking forward to playing with them. And not just them, but the rest of the team which is incredibly talented as well."

Sasaki, who lost several family members in the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan, also gave a heartfelt message to the people of Los Angeles that have been affected by the wildfires.

"I was also affected by disaster and suffered a lot, but I tried not to forget to keep looking forward," Sasaki said. "I hope to look forward and do my best together with the people of Los Angeles."

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