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LeBron James is one of the most loved athletes, perhaps also the most hated. While he is loved for his exceptional abilities on the hardwood, the hate stems from his input on societal issues.
You know you are doing something right when fellow athletes across several sports shower you with praise. In his 18-year-career, LeBron James has received high praise from several high-level athletes in the world of sports.
LeBron James has been the poster boy for the NBA in the 21st century. His skillset and complete understanding of the game have led him to ten NBA Finals appearances and four championships. Although he is way past his prime, you can't put it last LeBron to compete for another title in the 2021-22 season.
NBA players and coaches alike have commended LeBron James' consistency over the years. However, it is doubly rewarding when champions in other sports recognize his brilliance.
#1 Zlatan Ibrahimovic on LeBron James addressing social injustice
Zlatan Ibrahimovic, an iconic striker for AC Milan, has expressed his disdain for LeBron James' involvement in politics. He believes the four-time NBA champion should not engage in activities that "divide people."
Even though Zlatan does not appreciate what he does off the court, he holds the most respect for LeBron James, stating that he's phenomenal at what he does. While everyone is entitled to their own opinions, the Akron native did not agree with the Swede and attempted to educate him in a reply.
Regardless, Ibra holds LeBron James in high esteem and sees him as one of the greatest basketball players. The 39-year-old has competed at the highest level and has won almost all football awards around the world.
That said, let's look at five times LeBron James was appreciated by sportspeople across the globe.
#2 Lewis Hamilton congratulating James for reaching the 2020 NBA Finals
Lewis Hamilton is in a league of his own in Formula1 as the Brit driver has won seven championships. He expressed his love for LeBron James after he led the LA Lakers to the 2020 NBA Finals.
Lewis took to Instagram to send his congratulatory message and urged LeBron James to win the championship in honor of Kobe. We all know how that final turned out. His admiration for LeBron for the veteran has continued to grow.
#3 Tiger Woods predicting more NBA titles for LeBron James
Golf legend Tiger Woods was blown away by LeBron James' 2020 NBA Finals display. For a seasoned golfer that knows a thing or two about longevity, it was still an incredible feat to see King James perform at such levels after 17 years in the league.
In an interview, Woods complimented LeBron James and touched on his illustrious career and how he has impacted three different franchises.
It’s unbelievable what he (LeBron) has been able to not only achieve but sustain. Over the course of his career, he's been able to develop his game and make huge strides forward.
What's more impressive is that LeBron has been doing this for such a long time in a sport that is simply vicious. He never seems to miss games through injury and has taken immense care of his body. To add to that, he's big and fast, he must've endured plenty of wear and tear along the way so it's just remarkable how he's been able to maintain such a high level for this long. He's a freak of nature.
#4 Kylian Mbappe appreciating his idol since childhood
Kylian Mbappe has always been a huge fan of LeBron James from his childhood days. The PSG young striker has seized every opportunity to profess his love for the NBA icon.
In an interesting turn of events, Mbappe is collaborating on a sports clothing line with LeBron James. It is a dream come true for the youngster as reports suggest that Nike has already started production.
#5 Andy Murray on winning championships
Andy Murray, as a basketball fan, has followed LeBron James' success stories over the years. He likened himself to James following his failure to win the finals on numerous occasions. In an interview, he said:
Many journalists asked me what it was like. The example I used was someone like Lebron James who was the best player in the NBA but he hadn’t won an NBA Championship. And with every year, that kind of goes on and the pressure builds up and people ask you why you haven’t won and what are the reasons for that.
While it is not entirely full-on praise, he appreciated LeBron James' tenacity. Surprisingly, he won two Grand Slams in 2013 and 2016, two years LeBron won NBA Finals with the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers.
