Theater: “King James” at MTC

Sorry, sports fans, but when it comes to pro basketball, I’m strictly at sea. I barely know the difference between a point guard and PowerPoint. The only sports rivalry I’m vaguely familiar with is Yankees versus Red Sox.

Despite my ignorance, I thoroughly enjoyed “King James” (MTC), Rajiv Joseph’s funny, poignant new play about a friendship that develops between two rabid fans of the Cleveland Cavaliers: Matt (Chris Perfetti from “Abbott Elementary”) and Shawn (Glenn Davis, who was so good in “Downstate” off-Broadway earlier this year.)

They meet in a Cleveland wine bar as Matt, desperate for cash, is selling his Cavs’ 2004 season tickets, just as a talented rookie named LeBron James (aka “King James”) has joined the roster. Shawn, crying poor, bargains him down to a third of what he’s asking, but after closing the deal, realizes he’s bought a pair of season tickets, not singles. He has no one to go with to the games so Matt comes along for the ride.

Their buddy-ship continues for the next several years even after King James deserts the Cavs for the Miami Heat, and Shawn enters a graduate writing program in New York. “I suppose now you’re going to become a Knicks fan,” Matt sneers at him, only somewhat half-kiddingly.

As the years go by, their fortunes shift. Matt remains in Cleveland, while Shawn has become a TV writer in Hollywood. A lot of nasty comments as well as a few accusations of racism (Shawn is Black) are traded but their fidelity to the Cavs, and thus their friendship, remains solid.

Both Perfetti and Davis exhibit a comic flair unseen in their previous work. However, since basketball is a team sport, we must also credit several other key players for this evening of hilarity: playwright Joseph for the LOL-funny words, Kenny Leon for the sharp direction and Todd Rosenthal for the highly creative sets.

If you’re a pro sports fan and swear undying allegiance to your team, you’ll love “King James.” If you’re a fan of LeBron James, you’ll find it a slam dunk. And if you’ve never fully understood the psychology behind sports fandom, you’ll find the play highly enlightening. I’m now eagerly looking forward to the day when the Knicks face the Yankees in the Super Bowl.