Puka Nacua Rocks LeBron James Jersey After NBA Star Gives WR Nickname
Oct 8, 2023, 1:12 PM
Puka Nacua #17 of the Los Angeles Rams runs off the field after scoring the game-winning touchdown against the Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on October 01, 2023 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
(Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY – Former BYU Cougars and current Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua wore a LeBron James jersey after the NBA star provided the rookie a new nickname ahead of his Week 5 NFL game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Puka Nacua rocks LeBron James jersey
The Rams will host the Eagles at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on Sunday, October 8.
A couple of hours before kickoff, the Rams posted a video on social media of the former BYU star showing up for the game.
Nacua sported a No. 6 Los Angeles Lakers jersey in support of James ahead of the Week 5 contest.
.@AsapPuka is a fan of yours too, @KingJames. 🫡 pic.twitter.com/6MVl30ZXZX
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 8, 2023
LeBron James give Puka Nacua nickname
Earlier in the day, James shared his picks for Week 5 in a video posted to the NBA star’s Instagram account.
During his preview of the Eagles-Rams game, James gave Nacua a nickname based on fellow NBA star Luka Dončić.
“Obviously, they got ‘Puka Dončić’ who’s been going crazy!” James said of Nacua. “Most receptions of any wide receiver in NFL history through four weeks and, obviously, we saw last week with the game-winning reception that he had.”
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The Rams own a 2-2 record entering Week 5.
Los Angeles’ next game is at home against the Philadelphia Eagles on October 8 at 2:05 p.m. (MDT) on FOX.
Rams WR Puka Nacua voted as Rookie of the Week
Following Week 4, Nacua received NFL Rookie of the Week honors for the second time in his first month in the league.
The fifth round draft pick was honored as the league’s Pepsi Zero Rookie of the Week following his play in Week 2 of the season.
Puak Nacua in Week 4
The former BYU star earned his second Rookie of the Week award for his heroics in Los Angeles’ road victory over the Indianapolis Colts.
Rookie of the Week so nice, he did it twice. 😮💨@AsapPuka | @pepsi pic.twitter.com/P4AuuqqOIi
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) October 5, 2023
With 5:49 left in overtime, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford connected with Nacua on a pass over the middle of the field. The former BYU star sprinted toward the goal line and through would-be tacklers before reaching the end zone.
Nacua’s catch resulted in his first career touchdown and lifted the Rams to a 29-23 victory over the Colts.
The rookie finished the game with a team-high nine receptions for a career-high 163 yards and a touchdown. He also recovered a fumble.
.@AsapPuka FTW 🤙
The former @BYUfootball star scores his first career touchdown in OT to lift the @RamsNFL to victory over the @Colts. #LocalsInTheNFL #NFL #RamsHouse #LARvsIND #BYUFOOTBALL @kslsports pic.twitter.com/zHck0qwEnA
— Kyle Ireland (@kyleireland) October 1, 2023
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Through the first four games of the season, Nacua has recorded 39 receptions for 501 yards and one touchdown. Nacua currently leads the league in catches and has the second-most receiving yards behind Justin Jefferson’s (Minnesota Vikings) 543 yards.
About Puka Nacua
Before his college career, the Provo, Utah native played high school football at Orem High School. He finished his career with the Tigers as the owner of multiple state records.
Nacua helped the Tigers win back-to-back 4A state titles in 2017 and 2018.
After high school, the receiver attended the University of Washington and played a couple of seasons for the Huskies.
During his two years in Seattle, Nacua had 16 catches for 319 yards and three touchdowns.
After the 2020 season, Nacua returned home to Provo and transferred to BYU. He immediately became a star for the Cougars.
Jaren Hall with a strike to Puka Nacua.
🎥: @CFBONFOX
pic.twitter.com/OiEusvRyli— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 6, 2022
In 2021, Nacua hauled in 43 receptions for 805 yards and six touchdowns. Despite battling injuries last season, Nacua recorded 48 catches for 625 yards and five touchdowns in 2022. He also ran for 209 yards and five touchdowns in his final season at BYU.
Nacua finished his BYU career with a total of 91 catches for 1,430 yards and 11 touchdowns as a receiver. He added 39 carries for 357 yards and five touchdowns with his legs.
In April, the Rams selected Nacua with the No. 177 overall pick during the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Kyle Ireland is a Sports Producer and Locals in the NFL Insider for KSLSports.com. He’s also co-host of the Yards After College Podcast. Follow him on X/Twitter (@kyleireland), Instagram (@kyleirelandksl), and Threads (@kyleirelandksl).
