Throughout his nearly two-decade NBA career, there are perhaps no accolades that LeBron James failed to add to his resume. Among them, the latest one is the honor of being the first U.S. male basketball player to carry the American flag at the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony.
One of the most enthusiastic reactions came from Dan Le Batard, who passionately praised LeBron on his show, “The Dan Le Batard Show.” Le Batard drew a powerful comparison, hailing LeBron as the modern-day Muhammad Ali.
“With social media mocking people, he was always chasing Michael, always chasing Michael. Seeing him holding that American flag—it means something different than it did twenty years ago, but the person holding it doesn’t. He still represents excellence for twenty years, today’s Ali,” Batard said.
Le Batard’s admiration for James didn’t stop there. He even brought up seven-time NFL champion Tom Brady to emphasize the magnitude of LeBron’s achievements.
“Do you know how hard it is to tackle that? Michael Jordan is America’s ultimate winner, and not even Brady could do it because he wasn’t first,” Batard added.
Dan Le Batard Reflects on LeBron’s Flag-Bearing Honor
In the NBA, debates often arise about who holds the title of GOAT between Michael Jordan and LeBron James. While Jordan is often seen as superior in scoring, LeBron is known for his rebounding and assisting abilities. However, Dan Le Batard chooses not to engage in these comparisons, instead focusing on a different aspect of LeBron’s legacy.
Batard imagined a scenario in which an older LeBron James proudly carried the flag for his country, unlike an older Michael Jordan, who was still playing for the Wizards.
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“Imagine Michael Jordan at the end of everything not shooting jumpers for the Wizards, older than any athlete out there and still deserving of holding the flag how emotional you would have been watching it because you’re so much nicer to him,” he said.
Jordan ended his NBA career many years ago, while James is also in the twilight of his professional career. The legends will always be remembered for their achievements and contributions on the NBA court.
