Jake Paul’s Austin Reaves–LeBron James Analogy Backfires as Fans Mock Unusual Lakers Comparison

In the lead-up to his December 19 matchup with Anthony Joshua, YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul has experimented with a new underdog narrative — but this one took an unexpected turn into NBA territory.

Paul compared himself to Austin Reaves and framed Joshua as LeBron James, positioning the fight as a clash between a rising, overlooked talent and a dominant established star. While the idea was meant to build drama and illustrate Paul’s long-shot path to victory, it instead earned confused reactions and heavy criticism from NBA and boxing fans alike.

A comparison that didn’t land

In a post on X, Paul wrote:

“He’s LeBron James and I’m Austin Reaves. He’s had all the accolades and I was undrafted. I respect the legend, but it’s my time.”

Rather than generating sympathy or hype, the analogy triggered a wave of memes, jokes, and dismissive replies. Fans questioned both the logic of the comparison and Paul’s continued reliance on melodramatic marketing.

One user fired back:

“Is that the future version of you speaking from the ambulance?”

Others used the opportunity to question Paul’s credibility as a boxer, suggesting that comparing himself to Reaves was almost generous. Another fan wrote:

“Reaves is still a professional athlete. You bought your way into boxing.”

Even those who responded with encouragement did so with a wink, noting that Reaves once lit up LeBron in practice and still earned himself a lucrative contract — a subtle reminder that the comparison works both ways.

Joshua pledges to make the fight brutal

While fans mocked Paul online, Anthony Joshua kept his focus on the seriousness of the bout, making it clear he intends to end the contest decisively.

At a press event in Miami, Joshua issued the harshest warning yet:

“If I’m being honest, I’m going to break his face. I’m going to break his body up, I’m going to stomp all over him.”

Promoter Eddie Hearn backed that up, telling reporters:

“Be careful what you wish for.”

Paul, however, doubled down on his fearless persona, insisting he was willing to suffer extreme punishment:

“He’s gonna have to kill me to stop me, and I’m ready to die in the ring to win this fight.”

Joshua takes preparation seriously

Joshua revealed that he is training in Spain with members of Oleksandr Usyk’s championship team, rather than returning to his previous setup in the UK. Joshua described the environment as intense and demanding — fitting for a bout that many consider a major mismatch in size, experience, and pedigree.

Paul’s path to this fight took a turn when he was originally expected to face Gervonta Davis, but that bout collapsed due to Davis becoming the subject of a lawsuit involving allegations of intimate partner violence.

Now, with Paul embracing chaos and Joshua promising destruction, the storyline heading into December 19 has only grown louder — even if Paul’s attempt at NBA-style drama didn’t exactly score with fans.