LeBron James reacts to Will Smith jokingly warning him about Tom Brady's bullying tactics in powerboat rivalry

LeBron James is the latest celebrity to join the E1 Series World Championship, an all-electric race boat competition Tom Brady won last year. Will Smith, also a team owner, warned James not to let Brady and artist Marc Anthony “bully” him. The LA Lakers superstar’s Team AlUla will reportedly debut on Saturday in the E1 Jeddah GP.

James, a four-time NBA MVP, responded to the actor’s advice and wrote on Instagram:

“Yessir! Appreciate the welcoming and the lookout on the bullies too! Haha. LETS GOOOOO!!!”

LeBron James' reaction to Will Smith's advice about not allowing Tom Brady to "bully" him in the UIM E1 Series World Championship. [photo: @kingjames/IG]

LeBron James’ interests are varied, and his portfolio includes minority ownership of Liverpool FC.

This is the NBA All-Star’s first foray into boat racing, let alone an electric powerboat competition with celebrity team owners. Besides Brady and Smith, cricketer Virat Kohli, tennis legend Rafael Nadal, football great Didier Drogba and others also own teams.

James said about his reason for joining the E1 Series World Championship (via Forbes):

“As a lifelong fan of sports and competition, the opportunity to own an E1 team that represents such a high level of innovation in sports is incredibly exciting. E1 is a new type of global competition that’s revolutionizing water racing, and I’m proud to be at the forefront of its expansion in season two.”

Handling LeBron James’ racing boat are Rusty Wyatt and Catie Munnings. Wyatt won the Rookie of the Year in the 2024 UIM World Championship, while Munnings is an experienced racer, competing for Team Brazil in the E1 Series last year.

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Tom Brady has more NFL championships than LeBron James has NBA titles

In 2021, LeBron James called Tom Brady’s seventh Super Bowl win “inspiring.” TB12 was 43 when he last lifted the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Brady won six championships with the New England Patriots before guiding the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the top late in his career. Two years later, he walked into the sunset.

James, who just turned 40 and is playing in his 22nd season in the NBA, trails the legendary quarterback by three championships. "King" James last lifted the Larry O’Brien Trophy in 2020. He teamed up with Anthony Davis to give the LA Lakers their 17th championship.

The Lakers reached the Western Conference finals in 2023 but were swept by eventual champions Denver Nuggets. James and Co. were again sent on vacation by the same team. The four-time NBA champ has said a few times that he doesn’t have long left in his basketball career.

Catching up with Tom Brady’s championship haul in pro sports seems a foregone conclusion. LeBron James can continue his chase of Brady now that they are competing in the UIM E1 World Championship as team owners.