Los Angeles Dodgers SP/DH Shohei Ohtani caught the world’s attention during Game 4 of the NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers this past October when he hit three solo home runs and pitched six innings, giving up two hits, no runs, and striking out 10. The Dodgers swept the series on that legendary performance and went on to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays in seven games to win the World Series in November.
Ohtani caught the attention of perhaps the most famous athlete in the United States, LeBron James, who gave the two-way star his props for being so dominant at the plate and on the mound.
“Me and a few of our friends, we got a group chat and we just talked about Ohtani the other night. And one of our friends, he said, ‘If I sent y’all a message and said that a guy struck out 10 batters in the NLCS, you guys would be like ‘Oh, that was a hell of a game by that pitcher. Wow.’ And then if I sent a separate text and said that in that same game, another guy came in and had three home runs in that same game … the same guy did that. He did both of those,” James said on the Mind The Game podcast this week.
As one of the NBA’s all-time two-way players, James being impressed is a major deal. While the NBA has long had offensive dynamos who took plays off at the other end, James helped the Miami Heat, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Los Angeles Lakers win titles by staying engaged all 94 feet of the court.
If anyone’s approval on what it takes to dominate multiple facets of the game matters, it’s most certainly James’s.
LeBron James and Shohei Ohtani now have the same employer
Of course, there’s a business tie-in involving James and Ohtani that, while not directly responsible for the comments, certainly was convenient. The Dodgers and Lakers will both be part of Mark Walter’s TWG Sports, the entity Walter created to oversee all his sports holdings. Walter acquired a $10 billion majority stake in the Lakers in October.
Still, Ohtani’s play throughout the postseason was eye-popping enough on its own to draw praise from around the sports world.
Even from a fellow four-time MVP in his sport, like “The King.”
