Nick Kyrgios question sparks fiery LeBron James debate between NBA greats

Australian tennis ace Nick Kyrgios caused pure chaos during a live broadcast as two NBA greats traded expletive barbs over one question.

Nick Kyrgios sparks LeBron James debate

Nick Kyrgios has sparked a fiery debate after asking one rather simple question.

The Aussie tennis ace who has endured a torrid 2023 through injury, has started making waves with his work behind the microphone.

Watch an average of 9 NBA Regular Season games per week LIVE on ESPN, available via Kayo. New to Kayo? Start Your Free Trial Today >

After making his commentary debut on the Tennis Channel in mid-November, Kyrgios switched it up and joined a pair of NBA icons behind the microphone on Sunday.

Kyrgios, 28, is a diehard Boston fan and appeared alongside a trio of Celtics champions in Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Tony Allen on Showtime Basketball.

The quartet sat watching the NBA’s in-season tournament final between the Los Angeles Lakers and Indiana Pacers.

It was the Lakers who emerged victorious on the back of a monster display from Anthony Davis, but it was a question from Kyrgios that saw things turn heated on the broadcast.

“He’s still elite. Is LeBron still top five in the league?” Kyrgios asked on the KG Certified Showtime Basketball show.

Garnett answered almost immediately as he continually repeated “hell yeah”, but it was Pierce who wasn’t having it.

As Pierce continually shook his head at the question Garnett pushed him to name five players better than James.

“Luka Doncic, The Joker (Nikola Jokic), (Joel) Embiid, Giannis (Antetokounmpo) and (Jayson) Tatum. Shut up,” Pierce says.

“Please stop with this nonsense.”

Nick Kyrgios question sparks heated debate

What unfolded next was nothing short of anarchy as Garnett scolded his former Boston teammate over the James disrespect.

Meanwhile Kyrgios just sat off to the side watching the chaos play out.

“Man get your ass out of here, get your garbage ass out of here,” Garnett says.

“The f*** you talking about. You a cupcake, you talking that goofy sh*t. You act like you don’t even know basketball.”

Pierce hit back by calling Garnett a James fan before doubling down on his list of players who he ranks above the man better known as “The King”.

“Hey man somebody get this man a LeBron jersey real quick so he can put it on,” Pierce said.

“Joker, Luka Doncic, Giannis … I’m also taking Shai Gilgeous-Alexander over Bron right now.”

Kyrgios interjects: “No way, that’s crazy. That’s wild bro.”

LeBron continues to dominate the league at the age of 38. Ethan Miller/Getty Images/AFP.

While Pierce may not have James in his top five players in the league, the Lakers superstar continues to defy belief in his 21st season in the league.

James took his play to a whole new level throughout the in-season tournament as he put his team on his back and carried them into the final.

Against the New Orleans Pelicans in the semi-finals he erupted as he scored 30 points to go along with eight assists and five rebounds all in the space of only 23 minutes.

He stepped up once again in the final against the Pacers as he finished with 24 points, 11 rebounds and four assists.

His dominance throughout the tournament saw him rightfully named the first ever in-season tournament MVP.

Originally published as Nick Kyrgios question sparks fiery LeBron James debate between NBA greats