76ers fan Troy Clemons tells his side of LeBron James' mid-game wine sip in Bulls rout

The most-watched clip from the Philadelphia 76ers' 126-107 win over the Chicago Bulls on Monday wasn't a basket. It was LeBron James, in the third quarter, taking a sip of a courtside fan's red wine. Now the fan has explained what happened, and he took it in stride.

He is Troy Clemons, a longtime Sixers season-ticket holder. According to the New York Post, which drew on interviews by ESPN's Kris Rhim, Clemons said James ran into him, grabbed hold of him and said sorry before taking the cup out of his hand. James drank from it, gave it back and returned to the floor. Clemons later threw the cup away and got himself a fresh drink.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the collision followed a transition pass from Tyrese Maxey that didn't connect. James's momentum carried him past the basket and into the seats. The paper described Clemons as a Philadelphia native who has been coming to Sixers games for four decades, back to the days when Julius Erving played at the Spectrum. 6abc Philadelphia added that Clemons grew up with Erving's sons. The station also reported that Clemons wasn't starstruck and wasn't bothered about the spilled wine, saying he was simply glad to have James in Philadelphia.

After the game, James explained it with a straight face. He said he had spilled some of the wine on his arm and wanted to find out whether it was worth it. His review, as reported by the Associated Press: "It was alright." James has often said he drinks a glass of wine a day and partly credits it for his longevity. At 41, he finished the night with 15 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.

The moment matched the mood of the night. NBC Sports Philadelphia framed it as more evidence that James is enjoying his time in Philadelphia. 6abc noted that he danced after an and-one layup, which sent Maxey into fits of laughter, and danced again with Maxey after the guard converted an and-one of his own. The AP reported that all five starters reached double figures: James, Joel Embiid, Maxey, VJ Edgecombe and Jaylen Brown. Maxey led the way with 26 points. James told reporters that a long season wears on players who don't find ways to have fun.

What it means for Detroit

The wine was a sideshow, but the win behind it adds to a strong start. Philadelphia is 7-1 and has won four straight. Over that run the Sixers beat Indiana 114-109 on the road, the Knicks 98-93 at home and Charlotte 109-104 on the road. The 19-point win over Chicago was their most lopsided result so far. They have also beaten Cleveland, Milwaukee and New York twice.

The next game is a harder test. Philadelphia plays at the Detroit Pistons on Wednesday, November 4, and Detroit is the only team to beat the Sixers this season. That 106-93 loss in Philadelphia was also the only time the Sixers were held under 98 points by anyone other than the Knicks. That night the offense stalled in a way it hasn't since. The rematch also comes just two days after the Bulls game, in the opponent's building, so the Sixers will show whether this starting group's strong form against the rest of the East also holds up against the one team that has beaten it.