
USA Today via Reuters
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James in a match against the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center | Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

USA Today via Reuters
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James in a match against the Phoenix Suns at Staples Center | Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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An NBA rookie claimed he was better than LeBron James
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Bennedict Mathurin, during his tenure as a rookie for the Pacers, created a stir with his unflinching confidence and competitive attitude. Mathurin, a native of Montreal, distinguished himself at the University of Arizona by displaying his extraordinary talent and courage. He brought those same qualities with him when he shifted to the league.
Even before stepping foot on an NBA court, Mathurin didn’t shy away from expressing what he thinks. He was candid in a pre-draft interview with the Washington Post about Lakers icon LeBron James. Mathurin announced, “A lot of people say he’s great. I want to see how great he is. I don’t think anybody is better than me. He’s going to have to show me he’s better than me.”

USA Today via Reuters
Nov 28, 2022; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) shoots against Indiana Pacers guard Buddy Hield (24) and guard Bennedict Mathurin (00) in the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
And boy, did he deliver on his words.
Despite the stark difference in their basketball accomplishments, Mathurin was able to live up to his hype on the floor. The Pacers put on an amazing comeback, erasing a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter and eventually defeating the struggling Lakers 116-115.
Read More: ?The Agony of deFEET?: NFL Veteran Imitating Dwyane Wade Leaves Taraji P Henson, Nishcelle Turner, and NBA World in SplitsLeBron produced 21 points and seven rebounds, while Mathurin concluded the game with exceptional stats of 23 points and eight rebounds, giving further weight to his earlier comments.
8x NBA star left in awe of the rookie
In a recent episode of the ‘Podcast P with Paul George,’ 8x NBA All-Star,
Paul George was left in awe of the rookie. In this episode, the shooting Guard Jalen Green along with his co-hosts Jackie Long and Dallas Rutherford joined Paul George. The hosts then jumped into the rated PG session.During this session, Paul George compares a young talent in the league to a veteran and discloses a lesser-known fact about them. This time P.G chose Benedict Mathurin.
He said,
“Even competing against him watching them play like um, I think you know for organization like Indiana that’s what they need like players like him. Those dogs. To me, he’s got like a shade of D Wade in them. Like that mid-range game, tough, athletic, strong body, Savvy. You know attacking the basket like he’s got a little shade of D Wade to him.”Watch This Story:?Weeks After Winning Exhausting Legal Battle, Hall of Fame Bound Dwyane Wade Gushes Over Baby Girl Zaya Reaching New HeightsGeorge Paul was of the opinion that Mathurin from the Indiana Pacers had similar traits and skills to Dwyane Wade. This included his mid-range game and his athletic body. Do you agree with this take of G.P?
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