Professional athletes from different leagues that play in the same city tend to support each other. That’s particularly true in L.A., where seeing Los Angeles Rams receiver Puka Nacua in attendance for a Los Angeles Lakers game is a common occurrence. With the Rams’ season having been over since they lost to the Seattle Seahawks (now the reigning NFL champions) in the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 25, the All-Pro wideout has even more free time on his hands than usual.

Making an appearance on Snapback Sports, he used some of that idle time to hype up one of his idols: LeBron James.

‘Never Seen’ Michael Jordan Do That: LA Rams’ Puka Nacua Hypes Lakers Idol LeBron James

“Score 40 when you’re a teen. Scored 40 when you were 40. The only person to take three different franchises to the big dance and get it done for them. Never seen Michael Jordan do that,” he mic drops.

Puka Nacua on LeBron James:

“Score 40 when you’re a teen, scored 40 when you were 40. The only person to take 3 different franchises to the big dance and get it done for them. Never seen Michael Jordan do that. I never want you to leave. Never retire. They could never do no… pic.twitter.com/hBSg5pCJfh

— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) February 9, 2026

“I never want you to leave. Never retire. They could never do no wrong. You could walk out on the basketball court with no knees, and only your left hand and give the NBA 25-5-5, just like you’ve done for 27 years straight. You’re the best, I love you so much. I still need a jersey, I’ll still be at the games. LeGOAT.”

Puka Nacua Has A Point

As a self-admitted superfan of King James, Nacua’s comments are definitely biased. That doesn’t mean they’re wrong though. James has pretty much done everything he said.

The first time the hardwood prodigy scored 40+ points in a game was on March 27, 2004. In a 107-104 win against the then New Jersey Nets, he recorded 41 points on 15-29 shooting from the field. It had been less than three months since he turned 19 years old. Since turning 40 years old on Dec. 30, 2024, James has scored 40+ points twice. Facing off with the Golden State Warriors on Feb. 6, 2025, he rained in 42 points (on 14-25 shooting from the field) in a 120-112 victory. Exactly two weeks later, he went off for 40 points (shooting 14-24 from the field) in another eight-point win, this time against the Portland Trail Blazers.

Feb 20, 2025; Portland, Oregon, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) walks to the locker room after a game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-Imagn Images

In terms of his success on the big stage, James has been to the NBA Finals 10 times. His teams came away with the Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2012, 2013, 2016, and 2020. In 2012 and 2013, his Hollywood-hyped Miami Heat defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder and San Antonio Spurs in back-to-back seasons. In 2016, his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers took down the Warriors in historic fashion. Finally, in 2020, he led the Los Angeles Lakers to the title in the NBA bubble.

Over the course of his storied career, the four-time NBA MVP and four-time NBA champion has averaged 26.9 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game. He’s averaged at least 25 points, five rebounds and five assists per game in an amazing 20 of the 23 seasons he’s played. Which brings us to Nacua’s only verifiable exaggeration, which is that James has been in the NBA for 27 years. Of course, the idea that he could put up 25-5-5 with only his left hand and no knees is at least a bit facetious, though it’s hard to put anything past such a rare athlete.

LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan, Who Has the Edge?

As far as Nacua comparing James’s accomplishments to Hall of Fame wing Michael Jordan? It’s certainly fair to say that James has accomplished feats that Jordan has not. Even so, there is that pesky factoid that haunts James fans when comparing their careers.

Because Jordan entered the NBA when he was in his 20s, he obviously had no chance to score 40 points as a teen. However, to his credit, he did record a 40+ point game when he was in his 40s. In fact, less than a week after his 40th birthday, he scored 43 points on 18-30 shooting from the field in an 89-86 win over the Nets. 16 days prior to his 40th birthday, he had his second 40+ point game of the season, notching 45 points against the New Orleans Hornets in a five-point win.

Again, due to circumstance, Jordan never led three different teams to a ring. He played for the Chicago Bulls for his entire career. Nevertheless, he made it to the NBA Finals six times, and has an undefeated record in those series that James could only wish for.

When it’s all said and done, James’s longevity speaks for itself. But Jordan still can’t be silenced.