Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James is not short of confidence, be it any sport. The 38-year-old superstar is playing some elite basketball for someone his age and is virtually carrying his team on his back. Averaging 29.8/8.4/7.0 this season, LeBron is again proving why he’s considered one of the GOATs.
Another guy who is considered the GOAT in a different sport is Tom Brady. The 45-year-old quarterback has won the Super Bowl seven times, which is not just the most by any player but also more than any team in NFL history. Additionally, he is the oldest NFL MVP at age 40, the oldest Super Bowl MVP at age 43, and the oldest quarterback selected to the Pro Bowl at age 44.
The records talk for themselves when it comes to these two legendary players, and last year we were rewarded a moment of the possibility of potentially the greatest cross-sport matchup of all time.
What was Tom Brady’s challenge to LeBron James?
Consider a matchup between two of the greatest players from the NBA and NFL, in a game of ice hockey! Those who have wanted to see this matchup got a sliver of hope last year. Sometime in May 2022 on a Monday night, four-time NBA champion LeBron James held a Twitter Q&A session.
He was casually answering a plethora of questions from his fans, such as his toughest career moment, which was the 2011 NBA Finals loss to the Dallas Mavericks, and his favorite NBA player under the age of 25, which was Luka Doncic. But his impromptu Q&A caught the eye of Tampa Bay Buccaneers star quarterback Tom Brady, who hopped in and asked a situational to James.
You and me, 5 rounds, ice hockey shootout, who wins? https://t.co/Xe0h0ZKngS
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) May 17, 2022
“You and me, 5 rounds, ice hockey shootout, who wins?” Brady, then 44 years old, tweeted at James. The King responded jokingly, saying, “Me but barely. May be swinging from my knees though.” He was referring to his 4-inch height advantage over 6-foot-4 Brady, which might actually turn out to be a disadvantage for him in hockey.
me but barely. May be swinging from my knees though. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
— LeBron James (@KingJames) May 17, 2022
Taking the opportunity, a handful of NHL teams threw their hats in the ring to host this dream matchup. “We could make this happen. You just let us know when.”, replied the Tampa Bay Lightning. “We can set this up,” tweeted the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Of course, it’s very unlikely that we get to witness a hockey game between the two stars anytime soon. But such candid interactions are a great source of entertainment for sports fans around the world. If this matchup indeed materializes in the future, let us know who you think will take home the win.