Legendary MLB star and Hall of Fame outfielder Reggie Jackson still has love for the game of baseball, but he is just as keen on watching LeBron James on the hardwood.
Jackson spoke to Marc Stein of The New York Times about his fondness for LBJ, as well as the first time he met James: during Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals.
The two legends had apparently been slated to meet when LeBron was in high school, but an apparent conflict resulted in the two meeting over a decade later. James has always shown reverence to sporting greats, and Jackson was no different:
“I walked up to him, shook his hand and asked him, ‘Do you know me?’ ” Jackson said, via Stein. “He said: ‘I know who you are. You’re Mr. October.’ ”
Jackson reciprocated the appreciation shown to him by James, telling Stein he feels LeBron is in the highest class of all-time greats:
“Once in a while you get a detractor, but the comparisons for LeBron are at the highest level,” Jackson said, via Stein. “He’s one of the Mount Rushmore guys.”
The man known as “Mr. October” for his World Series heroics has enjoyed the arrival of playoff baseball. However, Jackson also said he is trying to watch James as often as possible with the NBA season coming to a close:
“I enjoy watching him as much as I do the baseball,” Jackson said. “The basketball is winding down, so if they’re both on at the same time, I’m going to be flipping back to baseball, because I’m going to be on the basketball. You need to see this guy.”
Given the unprecedented nature of the 2019-20 season, it is possible LeBron James could become the “Mr. October” of the NBA if he helps lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a championship.
In any case, he has an admirer in Jackson.
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