Tom Brady’s friendship with Michael Jordan will be put to the test after the former NFL star called LeBron James ‘the greatest ever’.
The debate over who is truly the best basketball player of all time regularly dominates talk among fans and NBA analysts with Jordan and LeBron two of the leading contenders.
But Brady nailed his colors to the mast on Saturday during an appearance on stage with LeBron at Fanatics Fest in New York.
‘With the intensity that’s been on him, the Olympics, the different teams that he’s been on, he’s always done things the right way,’ the seven-time Super Bowl winner said of LeBron.
‘He’s always risen above all the noise and B.S. and continued to deliver. So you’re witnessing the greatest ever and I hope you guys all appreciate that.’
Those comments are sure to irk Jordan, who has grown closer to Brady in recent years.
Tom Brady snubbed friend Michael Jordan by calling LeBron James ‘the greatest ever’
Those comments are sure to irk Jordan, who has grown closer to Brady in recent years
They have appeared at a number of events together and Brady has been effusive in his praise for the Chicago Bulls icon in the past.
‘Michael Jordan was my… everyone wanted to be like Mike, so like, even when I see Mike today, I’m still like, “That’s Michael Jordan right there, you know”. And I just think he’s the coolest guy and you know I love his determination.’
Jordan won six NBA titles in his illustrious career, all with a star-studded Chicago Bulls team that also included Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman.
LeBron has played for three different teams, winning two titles with the Miami Heat, and one each with the Lakers and Cavaliers.
Last month Jordan’s longtime agent, David Falk, took a stunning dig at LeBron in the context of basketball’s GOAT debate.
‘I really like LeBron, but I think if Jordan had cherry-picked what teams he wanted to be on and two other superstars, he would’ve won 15 championships,’ Falk recently told the Sports Business Journal.
LeBron also admitted this week that his days in the NBA are running out as the 40-year-old addressed possible retirement.
Jordan won six NBA titles with Chicago while James has won with Miami, LA and Cleveland
When asked how much longer he had in the league, James chuckled and pointed at Brady. ‘He played until he was 58!
‘I don’t know, man… I can’t play that much further.’ LeBron then gestured to Wembanyama and suggested the 7ft 3ins Frenchman might push him into retirement.
‘The more and more time I play as long as he keeps smacking my f***ing shots into the stands, it’s going to make me retire,’ he said.
The NBA legend was egged on by former quarterback Brady, who shouted: ‘You’re still young!’ Brady, who played in the NFL until he was 45, told James: ‘You look so good out there!’
