CHARLOTTE, NC - NOVEMBER 27: (L-R) LeBron James #23 of the Cleveland Cavaliers talks to Cam Newton, quarterback of the Carolina Panthers after the Cavaliers defeated the Hornets 95-90 at Time Warner Cable Arena on November 27, 2015 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NBA - NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
LeBron James might be a fan of Cam Newton, but he has no plans on switching up his game to imitate the Carolina Panthers quarterback.
During Monday night's Super Bowl 50 media gathering, Newton was asked if he was the LeBron of the NFL, to which Newton responded, "Why can't LeBron be the Cam Newton of power forwards?"
"I heard that," the Cavaliers forward said at Wednesday's shootaround from Time Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte. "I'm not a power forward, though," he said. "And I'm not slowing down any time soon, so I like being a wing guy. It's cooler."
Asked if he could be the Cam of the NBA, LeBron responded, "I'm the LeBron of the NBA."
LeBron is certainly one of a kind, but the four-time NBA MVP acknowledged that Newton is an extraordinary NFL player.
"I think he's a rare talent," James said. "Obviously his size and speed, it's a rarity at that position. And his height, there's not that many guys at 6-5 or over in the NFL, especially playing the quarterback position. That's why, combined with his IQ, combined with his speed, his power, and combined with the great guys surrounding him, that makes him very tough."
James, a well-known Cowboys fan, was a star wide receiver on his high school football team and briefly toyed with the idea of playing quarterback.
"I played a little bit when I was in the muni leagues, but not too much," James said. "My left tackle wasn't that good. So I gave that up really, really fast."
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.