Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, who is a diehard Boston Celtics fan, has publicly not been the biggest fan Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James for years now. However, on Monday’s episode of Wake Up Barstool, Portnoy sang a different tune.
“I have long laid down my sword, I’ve said LeBron has had a great career and is probably a Hall of Famer,” he said to Barstool personality Brandon Walker on the show, although he did leave James outside of his top 20 players.
Walker, however, was incredulous that Pornoy used “probably.”
“Probably a Hall of Famer? He’s at worst the second best player of all time! My god, I’m letting him get me worked up on a Monday.”
“I have long laid down my sword, I’ve said LeBron has had a great career and is probably a Hall of Famer.” – @stoolpresidente
“Probably a Hall of Famer? He’s at worst the second best player of all time! My god, I’m letting him get me worked up on a Monday.” – @bfw https://t.co/4LWruCCRLG pic.twitter.com/rZYc6HGLbE
— Wake Up Barstool (@wakeupbarstool) April 20, 2026
Fans reacted to Portnoy’s admission on social media.
“Leaving lebron out of the top 20 is a bold way to start a monday morning. even with the sword laid down, that takes some serious effort,” one fan wrote on Twitter.
“LeBron debate still somehow managing to get people heated in 2026,” another fan added.
“The GOAT debate never gets old—LeBron’s legacy speaks for itself at this point. Calling him “probably” a Hall of Famer is wild,” someone else wrote.
What some people are struggling to realize is that Portnoy is a master at getting people riled up with his hot takes, and Walker fell right into his trap.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.