The Undertaker also likes LeBron and Kobe but MJ will always be his GOAT.
The Undertaker had a staggering 33-year pro wrestling career and has become one of the most accomplished WWE legends of all time. However, that didn’t mean that he never followed other sports as well. In fact, some may not know, but the iconic wrestler is an NBA fan too.
Like any other big-name sports personality, The Undertaker also once weighed on the NBA GOAT debate. For the four-time WWE champion, it is understandable that the conversation is only between LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and Kobe Bryant. However, the Taker’ is convinced that nobody did it better than MJ.
“It’s undeniable how great a player LeBron James is, but Jordan just had a different mindset,” The Undertaker, whose real name is Mark Calaway, told Sports Illustrated Media Podcast with Jimmy Traina in 2022. “He’s second to none. Maybe it was the era I grew up in, and I was much more involved in basketball at that point. Kobe belongs somewhere in that conversation, too, but I’m a Jordan guy.”
LeBron turned down The Undertaker
Looking at the wrestler’s take on the GOAT debate, it’s safe to say that the WWE icon admired the old-school NBA superstars more than players of the present era. But apparently, the Taker’ was also a LeBron fan as well.
Sometime in 2016, James donned an Undertaker shirt, and a photo of him went viral on social media. Hoping it had opened up an opportunity to link up with ‘The King,’ the Taker’ requested to meet LBJ after a Cleveland Cavaliers game. Unfortunately, the request was reportedly denied.
As it turns out, the four-time NBA MVP was very particular about meeting people after games. LeBron refused to meet The Undertaker as he deemed the request to be some sort of a PR stunt.
“If you don’t have an appointment, don’t already know James personally, aren’t a business associate or a small child, the odds of ‘meeting’ James before or after a Cavs game in or near the locker room are not great… James is not cool with someone purposefully trying to make money or gain fame through him, away from the court. In other words, no PR stunts that don’t benefit James. He wore an Undertaker T-shirt. For him, that’s enough,” Cleveland reporter Joe Vardon once said.
The Taker’ just likes MJ more than LeBron
Despite what happened in 2016, James and The Undertaker didn’t seem to have any issues about it. There is also no indication whatsoever that the incident affected Taker’s NBA GOAT of choice.
Perhaps the WWE legend is just more enamored by MJ than LeBron. After all, he seems like an old-school NBA fan, and the Bulls icon is simply the default preference for basketball enthusiasts from that era.
