Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James gave a playful response to his interview on Travis Kelce and Jason Kelce's “New Heights” podcast, where they discussed a particular NBA and NFL game.
The NBA great joined the show as he reflected on his legendary and decades-long career in basketball.
One topic they discussed was the NBA's Christmas Day games in 2024, in comparison to the NFL's schedule for the same day.
While the NBA has long featured high-profile games on December 25th, the NFL traditionally avoided scheduling games on the holiday due to its strong association with basketball.
However, since 2020, the NFL has become a holiday staple, holding at least one game each Christmas.
In 2024, fans were treated to the matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers, as well as the Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans.
The NFL also brought in legendary performers, with Mariah Carey kicking off the event with a pre-recorded rendition of "All I Want for Christmas Is You," while Beyoncé delivered a spectacular halftime performance in the Ravens-Texans showdown.
During the interview, LeBron James admitted that the NFL had “defeated” them by raking in massive viewership.
While the former Philadelphia Eagles center joked about the NFL “sneaking into the territory,” the 40-year-old basketball legend responded with a playful remark.
“I saw the [expletive] numbers after the fact. You guys kicked our [expletive], alright? Okay,'' James said. “From a viewership standpoint, y’all kicked our [expletive].”
Moreover, the Lakers forward expressed how he felt at the time.
“You know, when you go out there, you got your little brother and he might get beat up one time,” the four-time NBA champion added. “You’re like, ‘Hey, we didn’t lose that fight. We here.’ That’s how I felt. I had to stand up for the NBA.”
Following the interesting interview, the three-time Olympic gold medalist had a playful take on what he said on “New Heights.”
“Our games were better,” he said regarding the NFL and NBA debate, along with a video of his interview, adding, “I love the NFL and NBA.”
The Lakers star has played in numerous holiday matchups and currently holds the record for the most Christmas Day games with 19 appearances, as noted by ESPN.
