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USA Today via Reuters

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USA Today via Reuters

Be it offense or defense, King James is good at everything. And that is not his only skill. The Lakers veteran is good at making predictions as well. And in different areas at that. So, not just basketball, he has some flair in football as well. Years ago, James claimed to have predicted one of Kobe Bryant’s historical games. If only James’ newest deal existed back then, he would have made much success with it.

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In a resurfaced clip, James can be heard rightly predicting Bryant’s game. January 22 is the day when the Lakers legend Kobe Bryant made history. In 2006, the 5x NBA champ Bryant dropped a spectacular 81 points to gain a 122-104 win against the Toronto Raptors.

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The Lakers star James, in the clip, said that he had been watching the game at his home. And before the game, he had predicted that Kobe would make 70 points. As Bryant hit 70 points, James stated that he made another prediction. Then, he said that Bryant could probably post 80, and the legend did end his game with 81 points.

“I don’t know what made me say that. My friends was with me, and they was like, okay. So, when he got to like 70, I was like, well, he might as well go for 80 now. So, I mean, I’m a fan of the game,” James said.

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Now, if DraftKings Sportsbook had existed back then and had LeBron James used this impeccable predicting skills, this could have been a big hit. However, it isn’t too late. James already has a deal with the company. As of Macrotrends, DraftKings is worth $34.6 billion.

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LeBron James made correct prediction 

Just last year, the 4x NBA champ had announced that he had teamed up with the DraftKings Sportsbook. As part of this deal, he had predicted only regarding the NFL picks since betting is not allowed in the NBA. This deal has been advantageous for the company which will attract more NBA enthusiasts while growing their NFL base.

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Just recently this January, he had also predicted NFL playoffs upset correctly.  Even though the Buccaneers were considered the favorites to win, James had predicted it right by choosing the Washington Commanders to win against the Tampa Bay

“I know they’re going against a division champion in Tampa Bay, and Tampa Bay is super gritty. Baker Mayfield, another exceptional season. One of my favorite receivers in the game, Mike Evans, another thousand yards. He continues his streak. You know they played well this year again.” The Los Angeles Lakers star had faith in Daniels and while it wasn’t easy, the commanders made it. What we can see is James is only going to get better at his prediction game.

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Written by

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Pritha Debroy

3,476 Articles

Pritha Debroy works with the NFL Lifestyle Desk at EssentiallySports, where she explores the league beyond the sidelines and focuses on the cultural nuances of football. Bringing a fresh perspective shaped by her background in basketball lifestyle stories and cross-sport expertise, she highlights how NFL athletes build influence off the field. A graduate of the EssentiallySports Journalistic Excellence Program, our in-house initiative that trains writers under industry experts, Pritha specializes in long-form features and player-driven stories that capture the evolving identity of today’s NFL stars. Pritha combines her passion for storytelling with a thoughtful approach to sports culture and lifestyle. With strong communication skills and an eye for detail, she brings a distinctive voice to NFL journalism, delivering engaging and insightful content that resonates with readers.

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Masaba Naqvi

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