#LeBron James opens up about time he saved Carmelo Anthony from drowning

He’s a real-life hero, too.

Carmelo Anthony revealed in March on a podcast with Dwayne Wade and Wade’s wife, actress Gabrielle Union, that James rescued him from the ocean during a swim off a boat a few summers ago in the Bahamas. Anthony, James, Wade and Chris Paul – four NBA stars affectionately nicknamed the “banana boat crew” – were vacationing together.

James opened up about the incident for the first time Monday, leading up to the Los Angeles Lakers-Portland Trail Blazers playoff series pitting James against Anthony.

“I just knew that he was not back in the boat with the rest of us so I went out looking for him,” James said on a conference call with reporters. “Through the grace of God and through strength and not being afraid of the water, I was able to help him back to the boat. It was the only thing that was on my mind at that point and time, was getting my brother back to the boat.”

Anthony tells the story as James “saved my life” amidst the current pulling him in the opposite direction and winds, and Wade said the former New York Knicks star had drifted out of sight.

James spoke matter-of-factly but the gravity of the idea of saving a life clearly resonated on his face in video.

“I saw the current was a little bit stronger than what it first started at where we were,” James said. “It’s a blessing, honestly. We all talked about it and he told me he felt like I saved his life. I don’t really know what to say to be honest. I’m just happy he’s still here, obviously.”