Cam Newton claimed LeBron James will not score 40 points against him.
The former Carolina Panthers quarterback reacted to a certain post on X on his “4th & 1” podcast. The post asked who would win in a hypothetical game pitting himself and four of his closest friends that have stopped playing basketball beyond high school against the 2024 USA men’s Olympic team starting five, with Newton’s team starting with a 100-point lead.
Newton first assembled his hypothetical team from his family and friends, saying he would be prioritizing defense in his lineup. His co-host Omari Collins then asked him if he could guard James.
“I could,” the former NFL MVP replied. “He would not score 100 points on me.”
Collins argued that LeBron James might score 40 points on him, to which Newton replied, “He will not.”
“I’m over here looking eyeball to eyeball with Carmelo (Anthony). He will not get 40. All I gotta do is stop him.”
Newton and James have been friends since the former footballer’s time in Carolina, and have been seen interacting with each other at NBA games and on social media.
LeBron James vs. Cam Newton could be an interesting matchup
LeBron James may not score all 100 points in the hypothetical matchup between his Team USA and Cam Newton’s handpicked team, but he’s shown in the Olympics that he can still go despite people thinking that he’s almost past his prime. Newton claimed that he could stop James from scoring over 40 points, but it’s not impossible for the future NBA Hall of Famer.
To his credit, though, Newton had played basketball and baseball in his youth. The one-time NFL MVP was once seen as a world-class athlete who can give James a run for his money.
Cam Newton gave up basketball early into his high school career to focus on football. He was one of the top quarterback prospects in the country as a senior at Westlake High School in Atlanta.
After his short stints in Florida and in community college, Newton joined the Auburn Tigers, played one of the greatest seasons in college football history, and won the national championship and the Heisman Trophy with the club in 2010.
At 6’5”, 245 pounds, Newton’s size and athleticism were the key components that got him drafted as the number-one pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. He had a great career in professional football, becoming the NFL MVP in 2015 and setting the still-standing quarterback record of 75 career rushing touchdowns.
Newton’s team may have a huge score advantage over James’ team in the dream match, but their handicaps might also cause their opponents to catch up and reverse the situation. It would be up to him to translate his football prowess in the basketball court to maintain their lead in the hypothetical 48 minutes.
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