Panthers' Greg Hardy on 1-on-1 with LeBron James: 'I would dominate that dude'
Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy said he could beat reigning NBA MVP LeBron James in a game of 1-on-1. (Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Carolina Panthers defensive end Greg Hardy made some bold comments this week in an interview with the Charlotte Observer when he was asked whether he would win a 1-on-1 game with Miami Heat star and reigning NBA MVP LeBron James.
The topic cameup because The Observer reporters conducting the interview said they knew Hardy was a good basketball player, having played at Ole Miss, and wanted to know how Hardy viewed himself as someone who could potentially play two sports:
Q: If you went 1-on-1 with LeBron, who would win?
A: How should I answer this question? ...I would dominate that dude. Hands down, guaranteed win. And that’s my favorite player.
Q: Why?
A: I’m a beast
Q: He’s pretty good, too, though.
A: What’s your point? Everyone says he can go to the NFL and play defensive end, who says I can't go to the NBA?
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The 25-year-old Hardy, who stands 6-foot-4 and weighs approximately 275 pounds, said he would beat the 6-foot-8, 250 pound James by a score of 11-9 in part because he claims he has a 39-inch vertical. Hardy went on to say his claim that he would "dominate" James was a joke, but in all seriousness believes that he would "come out on top" if the two players ever went head-to-head:
"It would be a tight game. I’m not saying I would dominate him. That was a joke. I feel like I’d definitely win. I think there’s a game there. I don’t think that I’m trash and I don’t think that he’s trash. I think it’d be two dominant athletes playing and I’d come out on top."
Hardy's comments come in the same week that Memphis Grizzlies owner Robert Pera took to Twitter to challenge Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan to a game of 1-on-1, offering to give $1 million to charity if MJ accepts.
