Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has declared he would choose himself over any other player in the ongoing debate surrounding the greatest basketball player of all time.

The veteran star discussed his legacy and the inevitable comparisons with Michael Jordan during a wide-ranging interview with Time magazine published on Monday.

“I’m not taking nobody over me,” he stated emphatically.

Drafting the ultimate player

The NBA’s all-time leading scorer acknowledged that other legendary figures would likely hold the exact same self-belief regarding their own status.

“Rest his soul, Kobe will say the same thing. Magic will say the same thing. Bird will say the same thing,” he said.

“If there’s a general manager and he’s eyeballing all of us on a baseline, with the No. 1 pick, it’s gonna be hard not to take me, champ.”

Influence across different eras

When questioned about his cultural impact compared to the Chicago Bulls icon, the four-time league MVP offered a remarkably grounded perspective.

“You ask somebody that grew up in the Jordan era, they’re gonna say Jordan,” he explained.

“You ask somebody who grew up in the LeBron era … they’re still gonna say Jordan.”

Despite that candid admission, the four-time NBA champion remains completely confident in the unique, historic journey he has carved out over two decades.

Looming retirement decision

The 22-time All-Star could be approaching the final months of his unparalleled professional career as he prepares to enter unrestricted free agency this summer.

He remains undecided on whether to retire or return for an unprecedented 24th season, potentially remaining in California or seeking a new franchise.

“When I’m not in love with getting to the arenas on game days five hours before to start my preparation… then I know I’ll be done,” he revealed.

Should he finally decide to walk away, the basketball icon will leave having played more games, secured more victories, and taken more shots than anyone else in league history.

Tottenham Hotspur’s search for a new director has suffered a major blow after prime candidate Sebastian Kehl rejected a move to the North London club following concrete discussions.

The Premier League side had identified the German executive as their leading option to help reshape the backroom staff.

He was expected to work closely with current technical director Johan Lange to overhaul the sporting department.

Rebuilding after relegation struggles

This rejection forces the English club back to the drawing board ahead of a crucial transitional period.

The North London outfit are desperate to rebuild after enduring back-to-back relegation battles.

They finished 17th in the top flight for two consecutive seasons before finding stability.

Recent managerial appointment Roberto De Zerbi successfully guided the team away from the drop zone following an impressive turnaround.

Kehl evaluates his options

The highly-rated executive has been a free agent since departing Borussia Dortmund in March.

It was hoped his arrival at Spurs would coincide with further behind-the-scenes restructuring.

The current head coach is also looking to reshape the playing squad.

Reports suggest a new France international goalkeeper is being targeted to replace Guglielmo Vicario as the club’s number one.

Seventeen-year-old Mexico midfielder Gilberto Mora is preparing to make his mark on the 2026 World Cup following a record-breaking rise in domestic and international football.

The Club Tijuana prospect recently faced the media ahead of the global tournament, where he is set to be the youngest participant.

When jokingly asked if he would celebrate a potential final victory with an ice cream, the teenager laughed and confirmed he would prefer vanilla.

Despite the lighthearted moment, the young playmaker is already accustomed to the intense scrutiny that accompanies his precocious talent.

Rapid rise to the international stage

At just 15 years old, he made history by becoming the youngest goalscorer in Liga MX history.

His development accelerated further when he debuted for the senior national team a year later.

The Mexican prodigy even surpassed football icons Lamine Yamal and Pelé to become the youngest player to secure an international trophy during last summer’s Gold Cup triumph.

Now 17, the dynamic midfielder hopes to elevate his promising career on the sport’s most prestigious platform.

“It’s a dream for me, being able to play soccer, which is what I love doing most, and now, representing your country in a World Cup is something beautiful.” – Gilberto Mora

Maturity beyond his years

International teammate Santiago Gimenez recently highlighted the youngster’s unique focus during the team’s Gold Cup campaign.

The experienced striker noted that while other players were distracted by their phones, the teenage phenomenon was quietly reading a book on the team bus.

This exceptional thirst for knowledge extends far beyond the football pitch.

Linguistic skills and tactical awareness

During a recent press conference, the agile playmaker surprised the media by answering questions in fluent English.

Club manager Sebastián Abreu proudly interrupted the briefing to applaud his player’s impressive linguistic skills.

“He strikes with his left, with the right, he scores goals, and he speaks to you in English.” – Sebastián Abreu

On the pitch, his tactical awareness and constant scanning of the game demonstrate a remarkable intelligence that belies his young age.

Fifa has introduced a sweeping series of 11 rule changes for the 2026 World Cup aimed at eliminating timewasting and expanding video assistant referee powers.

The global governing body implemented these measures under the guidance of head of referees Pierluigi Collina.

Fans will soon see these regulations applied domestically across the Premier League, English Football League and Scottish Premiership next season.

Instead of adding unprecedented amounts of stoppage time, officials will now focus on deterring players from delaying restarts.

During the 2022 tournament in Qatar, strict timekeeping resulted in matches regularly exceeding 100 minutes.

England’s opening 6-2 victory over Iran famously featured a remarkable 24 minutes of added time across both halves.

Strict countdowns for restarts

Referees will now visibly enforce a five-second countdown for goal-kicks and throw-ins.

Officials will signal the countdown by moving their arm up and down if they feel a player is unnecessarily delaying the game.

Goalkeepers who take too long over their kicks will now concede a corner instead of merely risking a yellow card.

Similarly, players who deliberately waste time taking a throw-in will see possession handed straight to the opposition.

The Italian refereeing chief hopes that the threat of conceding a dangerous set-piece will prove a much more effective deterrent than bookings.

Temporary dismissals for slow substitutions

Substituted players are now strictly required to leave the pitch at the nearest boundary point within 10 seconds.

Failing to meet this deadline will prevent the replacement player from entering the field for at least one minute.

The offending team will then be forced to play with 10 players until the next natural stoppage in play.

Exemptions to this strict departure rule will only be granted for genuine injuries or severe security concerns.

This specific penalty has already been tested in international football.

Iceland were recently left a man down for over two minutes during a friendly against Japan after a player failed to leave the pitch promptly.

Expanded video technology powers

The comprehensive 2026 regulations also include new unspecified powers for the video assistant referee.

Additional adjustments have been formulated to address general player behaviour towards match officials.

Tournament organisers ultimately aim to protect the natural tempo of the game while reducing the potential for match-changing mistakes.

Former four-weight world champion Roy Jones Jr believes Anthony Joshua’s psychological edge will be the deciding factor when he faces domestic rival Tyson Fury in their highly anticipated heavyweight clash later this year.

The British duo are expected to finally meet in the ring before Christmas, ending more than a decade of bitter exchanges and failed negotiations.

Both heavyweights signed agreements for the historic double-header shortly after the Gypsy King secured a comeback victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov in April.

Before the undisputed showdown can happen, the Watford-born fighter will first return to action against Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 25 July.

Psychological warfare the key to victory

As the long-awaited encounter draws closer, 57-year-old boxing icon Jones Jr has weighed in on what the former Olympian must do to overcome his undefeated opponent.

The American legend believes the mental state of the two-time unified champion will entirely dictate the outcome of the blockbuster bout.

“You’re looking to see how his mental dominance works,” Jones Jr said in a recent interview.
“If he’s mentally dominant, then you know he’s ready to go into a big fight, but if he’s not mentally dominant, then he’s not ready for Tyson Fury.”
“Mental dominance is the look you see on his face from round one until whatever round it takes to end it.”

Rematch clauses and broadcast battles

The mammoth all-British rivalry is expected to feature a two-fight deal, with the inaugural contest set to be broadcast live on Netflix.

A planned rematch would then be shown on DAZN, ensuring both fighters’ respective broadcast partners are accommodated.

Jones Jr has urged both men to embrace the possibility of a trilogy if the opening bouts deliver the spectacle boxing fans are hoping for.

“If it’s a very good fight, a very competitive fight, and it’s close, we all want to see it again,” he explained.
“We’re going to want to see two out of three, but if somebody completely dominates somebody, we’re just going to say he was better than him.”

Everton have been ordered to pay Burnley £40m after losing an unprecedented legal battle regarding historical Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR) breaches.

The landmark ruling comes three years after the Merseyside club were initially handed a 10-point deduction by the Premier League.

That initial sporting punishment related to financial regulations broken during the 2021-22 campaign.

The points sanction was later successfully reduced to six on appeal at the beginning of 2024.

The cost of top-flight survival

The Clarets successfully argued that an immediate sporting sanction in 2022 would have fundamentally altered the relegation picture.

During that fiercely contested campaign, the Goodison Park outfit finished 16th with a total of 39 points.

Their Lancashire rivals ended up in 18th place and dropped down into the Championship as a result.

Burnley claimed they missed out on tens of millions of pounds in vital broadcasting revenue by falling out of the top division.

Unprecedented financial penalty

This verdict represents a landmark moment in English football governance.

It establishes a major precedent for clubs seeking financial restitution from rivals who violate strictly monitored spending limits.

The substantial compensation fee adds massive strain to an already fragile financial situation at the nine-time league champions.

Atletico Madrid have rejected a staggering £130m bid from city rivals Real Madrid for Argentina striker Julian Alvarez as he prepares for the World Cup.

The 26-year-old is at the centre of a dramatic transfer battle involving Spain’s top three clubs, with Barcelona also closely monitoring the situation.

Real president Florentino Perez tabled the €150m offer to fulfil an election promise of signing a marquee player.

However, Atletico executives immediately dismissed the sensational approach from their fierce cross-city counterparts.

Leaving Manchester City

The Argentine international joined his current employers in August 2024 for £81.5m after growing frustrated at the Etihad Stadium.

Despite winning the Treble and claiming six major trophies in England, he was unhappy playing as a deputy to Erling Haaland.

Former manager Pep Guardiola allowed the forward to depart, generating a massive profit on a player originally signed for just £14.1m.

“I simply told him how I felt – that I wanted more minutes in some matches where I knew I wouldn’t get them.”

“He gave me the freedom to choose my path.”

Julian Alvarez

Flourishing under Simeone

Since relocating to the Spanish capital, the World Cup winner has fully justified his desire to be a leading frontman.

The prolific attacker has registered 49 goals and 17 assists in 106 appearances under Diego Simeone.

He has consistently delivered in crucial fixtures, notably scoring in recent Copa del Rey and Champions League campaigns.

Legendary French striker Thierry Henry recently singled out the South American for immense praise on The Overlap.

“One of my favourite number nines out there is Julian Alvarez.”

“Putting pressure, playing alone, he can hold it up. The way he plays, I just like him.”

Thierry Henry

For now, the highly coveted forward will shift his focus to international duty as Argentina attempt to secure back-to-back global triumphs.

West Ham have released winger Adama Traore as part of a nine-player exodus following the club’s relegation from the Premier League.

The Irons’ 14-year stay in England’s top tier ended after Tottenham’s 1-0 victory over Everton on the final day sealed their fate.

Despite the drop to the Championship, head coach Nuno Espirito Santo will remain in charge for the upcoming campaign.

The Portuguese manager has already begun overhauling his squad with several notable names heading for the exit door.

Traore and Fabianski among senior exits

Traore departs east London having failed to score in nine underwhelming appearances since his cut-price January arrival from Fulham.

Veteran goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski will also leave the club for a second time.

The former Arsenal stopper was lured back to the Hammers mid-season, having previously departed on a free transfer last summer.

Disasi returns to Chelsea as youth prospects released

French defender Axel Disasi will head back to parent club Chelsea following a successful loan spell.

The centre-back made 17 appearances across all competitions and established himself as a fan favourite alongside Konstantinos Mavropanos.

Six academy prospects will also leave the relegated outfit upon the expiration of their current contracts.

Further high-profile departures are anticipated over the summer months.

Club captain Jarrod Bowen and highly-rated midfielder Mateus Fernandes are already being linked with moves away from the club.