Michael Jordan was remembered by fans after NASCAR released a message regarding the future of LeBron James following his departure from the Los Angeles Lakers this week. With the four-time NBA champion officially set to continue his career elsewhere for a record 24th NBA season, NASCAR recalled one of the most famous lines of his career.
James informed the Lakers that he would not be returning after eight seasons with the franchise, ending one of the most successful chapters in team history. While he has yet to announce his next destination, several teams have already been tied for the NBA’s all-time leading scorer as he chases another championship at age 42.
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Playing off of James’ iconic 2010 statement when he famously said he was “taking his talents to South Beach,” NASCAR retweeted his statement on X with a flashback video of his appearance at Bristol in 2005 and captioned it:
“He’s bringing his talents back to NASCAR.”
The the post quickly turned into a discussion about LeBron James’ hypothetical future in NASCAR. Many fans immediately associated him with Michael Jordan, whose 23XI Racing, which he co-owns, has established itself as one of the strongest teams in the 2026 Cup Series. One fan wrote:
“He’s really coming to take everything away from Michael Jordan.”
“Don’t start Jordan,” added another.
“MJ vs. LeBron would be legendary” another fan wrote on X.
The comments also reflect the growth of 23XI Racing in 2026. Michael Jordan’s team had another great campaign, with Tyler Reddick driving the No. 45 Toyota to five wins in the first 18 races to stay firmly in contention for the championship. However, not everyone liked this idea.
“I couldn’t even take a dip. Um, my head, that’s why MJ is a goat,” One user wrote.
“Stop even joking about it, it would be terrible. He’s the opposite of MJ.” wrote another.
Others preferred to take pleasure in the crossover.
“That would be great to see. Can you imagine him trying to get into the car?” – commented one fan.
Another fan pointed out to LeBron James’ existing ties to NASCAR through Fenway Sports Group, which owns RFK Racing:
“He is part owner of Fenway Sports Group… @keselowski 👀”
For now, James’ focus remains on choosing the next stop in his NBA career.
Brad Dougherty once warned Michael Jordan about the realities of NASCAR ownership
Long before that fans speculated about LeBron James Entering NASCAR, another Cleveland Cavaliers star, Brad Dougherty, gave Michael Jordan some advice before he started 23XI Racing. Daugherty, who grew up racing in North Carolina before becoming an NBA All-Star, warned his longtime rival and former college teammate that stock car racing is unlike any other professional sport.
Dougherty explained in 2023 that NASCAR requires a very different approach than owning an NBA franchise. Unlike basketball, there was no comparable financial structure or safety net, making it much more difficult to succeed despite significant investment. He said (through Automobile week):
“I told Michael before he started doing it that it was a different animal. There is no collective bargaining process. There is no significant income distribution. Obviously you have the ability to do what you need to do, but come into it with your eyes wide open because I have a few friends who got into it and are very, very rich people. They spent a huge amount of money to do nothing but win a couple of trophies and now they’re gone.”
“I’m a racer. I’m a little different. I’m on the floor trying to figure out how to put our shocks a little higher. I’m that kind of guy. You’re not. You don’t know the difference between a tie rod end and a ball joint. But this sport will take every dollar you put in and just put it in a black hole.”
Michael Jordan still accepted the challenge. Since launching 23XI Racing with Denny Hamlin in 2021the organization has steadily expanded into one of NASCAR’s premier teams.
Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick led that rise, and the latter sits second in the cup series standings despite a recent dip in form. Bubba Wallace also remains above the playoff line, highlighting how far the organization has come in just six seasons.
Edited by Anurup Chakraborty
