During the offseason, former Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton reacted to a viral tweet partly pertaining to LeBron James on his podcast, “4th and 1.” The tweet posed a hypothetical game against the 2024 Team USA Olympic basketball squad, with Newton’s team starting with a 100-point lead. Newton picked four members of his family and friends, prioritizing defense with his lineup.
On the show, Newton was asked, “Could you guard [LeBron James]?” (6:53)
“I could,” the former NFL MVP said. “He would not score 100 points on me.”
“He might give you 40,” Newton’s friend argued on the show.
Explore the NBA Draft 2024 with our free NBA Mock Draft Simulator & be the GM of your favorite NBA team.
“He will not,” Newton replied. “He will not. … I’m over here looking eyeball to eyeball with [Carmelo Anthony]. He will not get 40. All I got to do is stop him?”
LeBron James and Cam Newton have been friends since Newton’s time in Carolina. The two have interacted numerous times at NBA games and on social media.
Newton was once viewed as a world-class athlete in the NFL, giving reason to believe he could give James some trouble.
A look at Cam Newton’s athletic background to beat LeBron James
In his youth, Cam Newton played baseball and basketball, to his credit in his argument.
Newton gave up basketball early into his high school career, focusing on football as he was one of the best quarterback recruits in the country as a senior at Westlake High School in Atlanta, Georgia.
After a short-lived career at Florida and a short stint in community college, Newton returned to the big stage for the Auburn Tigers. He posted one of the greatest seasons in college football history in 2010, winning the Heisman Trophy and a national championship with Auburn.
In the NFL, Newton had a great career, winning the 2015 NFL MVP and setting the NFL record for career rushing touchdowns by a quarterback, which still stands at 75 touchdowns, per StatMuse.
Another factor in Newton’s argument is his size. At 6’5, 245 pounds, Newton’s combination of size and athleticism was unprecedented among quarterbacks when he was drafted with the No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.
LeBron James may not score all 100 points, but as he recently displayed in the Olympics, father time is nowhere close to catching up with the four-time NBA MVP. Unfortunately for Cam Newton, 40 points is a very likely number for the future Hall of Famer.
