Image Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

“I put him Kobe ahead of him” – NHL Analyst puts Alex Ovechkin over LeBron, gets bashed by Shannon Sharpe and Stephen A. Smith

Subban feels Kobe and Jordan are the only NBA superstars to have the quality of great players.

Image Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

NHL analyst P.K. Subban made an honest and bold statement about LeBron James while sitting on ESPN ‘s show ‘First Take’. The Former Nashville Predator was invited on the show to talk about Alex Ovechkin’s incredible accomplishment. He broke Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal-scoring record on Sunday.

During the discussion on Alex Ovechkin’s record-breaking night, the conversation moved to a GOAT debate about whether Ovechkin or LeBron James was the superior greatest of all-time players.

During the intense conversation about US Sports’ GOAT players, Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe got frustrated about LeBron’s durability. Subban, who was sitting next to Molly Qerim, insisted that Alex Ovechkin has been more durable.

.@PKSubban1 believes Alex Ovechkin has been more "durable" than LeBron James in his career 👀@stephenasmith and @ShannonSharpe aren't having it 😅 pic.twitter.com/D8weDReVfD
— First Take (@FirstTake) April 7, 2025

Also Read: ‘Overpaid’ and ‘Not Reliable’: Yankees Fans Rip Into Carlos Rodon After Another Letdown

Alex Ovechkin gets compared to the likes of LeBron James, Michael Jordan after historic feat

The Washington Capitals star Alexander Ovechkin created history on Sunday by breaking Wayne Greyzky’s record to become the leading goal scorer in the history of the NHL. ESPN analyst Shannon Sharpe feels Ovechkin’s record is not on the same level as LeBron James’ NBA scoring record.

P. K. Subban brought Kobe Bryant into the topic and considered him as more superior to LeBron James in the NBA. The former Norris Trophy winner and three-time NHL All-Star applauded Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan over LeBron James. Subban feels Kobe and Jordan are the only NBA superstars to have the quality of great players.

“LeBron’s great, but he ain’t Kobe, he ain’t Jordan…yeah I did, I put Kobe ahead of him!,” Subban said. “If we’re measuring greatness, it’s not just about the numbers. For me it’s situational and it’s also about the moments. Rising to the moment and showing you’re capable of influencing fear into the other team.“

"LeBron's great, but he ain't Kobe, he ain't Jordan…yeah I did, I put Kobe ahead of him!" – P.K. Subban joins First Take for some hockey talk pic.twitter.com/2lfYaeS5Pw
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) April 7, 2025

“When I look at great players, that’s what they all have the quality to do. I’m sorry, there’s nobody in basketball other than Kobe and Jordan that has ever instilled fear in their opponents like those two guys.”

Also Read: “Most feared hockey player of all time” : P.K. Subban Comments On Alex Ovechkin’s Latest Feat in NHL History

Shannon Sharpe, Stephen A bash Subban for putting Ovechkin over LeBron James in terms of scoring record greatness

Ovechkin sits alone as the greatest goal scorer in NHL history but Shannon Sharpe and Stephen A. Smith don’t rate this achievement as high as Lebron’s record. Subban’s addition of Kobe Bryant created drama in the show and everyone started yelling over each other.

The Russian superstar ended Greyzky’s 31-year-long feat on Sunday. Gretzky took 1,487 games to score 894 goals, and Ovechkin reached the milestone in the same number of games. On the other side, LeBron James has the scoring record in the NBA by surpassing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in the 2022-23 season.

Sharpe feels LeBron reached the number of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 150 fewer games. Kareem’s record stood for 40 years and LeBron surpassed a legendary milestone.

“Let me tell you how impressive LeBron James’ record is, he did it in 150 fewer games,” Sharpe said. “It took the same amount of games, 1,497, for [Ovechkin] to break Gretzky’s. LeBron broke Kareem’s record that stood for 40 years in 150 fewer games. He still ain’t played the number of games Kareem played.”

Apart from all the statements during ESPN’s show, we cannot take away glory from both NHL and NBA stars. LeBron James is leading the charts at the age of 40 and he has been the face of the NBA in the last one decade. On the other side, Ovechkin pulled off the greatest milestone in NHL history. Both starts are the greatest ambassadors of their game and it is not fair to compare their achievements.

Image Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images

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A native of Jaipur, Rajasthan, journalist, and a complete soccer and basketball fan, he found the huge interest with basketball by watching videos of Allen Iverson and Tony Parker, but fell head over heels in love with the sport during the Warriors’ championship era (2015-2018). A sports game addict since his late PS1, he’s also passionate about the Eagles, Inter Miami and the Fever. He’s fortunate to have seen all his favorite teams win championships. He also has a special love for cricket and football (soccer), where he is a fan of Royal Challengers Bangalore and Barcelona.