Tom Brady Placing Kobe Bryant on Sports Mount Rushmore Causes Divided Reactions: “No LeBron Anywhere”

Tom Brady did not name LeBron James despite naming Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese on his GOAT Mt Rushmore.

Tom Brady Placing Kobe Bryant on Sports Mount Rushmore Causes Divided Reactions: “No LeBron Anywhere”

Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant (FS Image)

When it comes to GOAT talk, there are few people more qualified than Tom Brady. Brady was a starter in the NFL for 23 straight seasons and is considered the gold standard for longevity in sports. He also has more Super Bowls than any NFL franchise during this period. Brady has the perfect combination of team and individual achievements, wins, accolades and acclaim, and is a unanimous GOAT choice for the NFL.

Given his status as the preeminent athlete wherever he sets foot, Brady is always accosted with questions around his own legacy as well as that of other athletes. Now that he is a media member and understands that views get clicks, Tom Brady enthusiastically engages in these discussions. However, his latest answer may have left a few fan bases smarting after he didn’t mention their favorite players.

Brady was asked which players he would place on his GOATs Mount Rushmore in a recent interview. The seven-time Super Bowl champion launched into his answer with a lot of vigor.

Michael Jordan. He was my childhood idol. He was unbelievable… Obviously I loved Kobe Bryant. I still love Kobe Bryant… Tiger, his competitiveness…What Rory McIlroy has done, I love that. Shohei Ohtani, what he’s done has been unbelievable. Barry Bonds, he went to my high school. I was the biggest fan of him growing up. Michael Phelps, I love him. Michael Johnson. A’ja Wilson, from my Las Vegas Aces. I love her, she’s amazing. Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese, this little thing they got going, I love that.

It is hard to find much fault with Brady’s picks here. Michael Jordan was the gold standard for any role in any setting in America during his heyday. Kobe Bryant was the epitome of maximizing one’s talent. Ohtani, Barry Bonds, Tiger Woods, Michael Phelps and the other names he mentioned are all-time greats. One could argue Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese’s placement, but their impact on women’s basketball has been monumental.

Yet, there’s one name that’s missing from this list. Some sports fans would say that this name being off the list is an egregious mistake. Some would rejoice at the fact that this name wasn’t mentioned. Either way, it has set off a degree of discourse about sports and Brady’s take.

Tom Brady leaving LeBron James out of Mount Rushmore discussion sparks discussion on social media

LeBron James is due to match Brady’s longevity with 23 NBA seasons under his belt if he plays next season. Yet, his not getting a shout-out from Brady after all his NBA achievements is something that fans pointed out. A number of fans sided with Brady while roasting James and his perceived failures. Some also pointed out how quickly Kobe Bryant’s name came up in the discussion after Jordan’s as a slight to James.

Fans should not read too much into interview answers like these, where even experts can sometimes lose focus and zone out on names and things they would likely have mentioned when not in the same situation. However, Brady not naming James the way he instinctively started off with Jordan and Bryant could be an insight into his thought process. After all, this is the greatest winner in American sports this century. He does know a thing or two about what’s most important.

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