In 2013, NBA player Brian Scalabrine, who averaged just 3 points per game over his career, responded to critics by challenging four volunteers who claimed they could beat him 1-on-1. In a public matchup, he dominated all four games, finishing with a combined score of 44–6.
The event became known as the “Scallenge” and is still remembered as one of the clearest examples of the massive gap between professional athletes and even highly skilled amateur players. By 2013, Brian Scalabrine had already retired from the NBA and was often the subject of jokes due to his limited playing time, with many pointing to his 3.1 points-per-game average as proof he wasn’t far above elite recreational players.
Scalabrine decided to challenge that perception directly. After hearing local players claim they could beat him one-on-one, he organized games against several strong amateur volunteers. The results were decisive—he won every matchup, finishing with a combined score of 44–6, showing that even post-retirement he was operating at a completely different level of speed, strength, skill, and basketball IQ.
The event produced one of the most famous quotes in sports, which remains unchanged:
“I’m closer to LeBron than you are to me.”
The line wasn’t arrogance, but a reality check about the skill gap between NBA players and everyone else. The Scallenge has since become a go-to reference whenever fans underestimate professional-level ability. Scalabrine’s career also included 11 NBA seasons and an NBA championship with the Boston Celtics in 2008, along with over 500 games played—an achievement reached by only a tiny fraction of players worldwide.
Richard Jefferson and Andre Iguodala debating who’s caught more bodies throughout their NBA career 😂
Iggy: “I got more bodies than you. I got bodies.”
RJ: “You got more bodies?”
Iggy: “Have you caught Yao Ming?”
RJ: “I can’t say, I caught Tim Duncan.”
Iggy: “I caught Tim Duncan too.”
RJ: “I caught Dwight Howard.”
Iggy: “That’s impressive.”
RJ: “With the left, off the right leg.”
Iggy: “I got somebody that does not get go.”
RJ: “Who?”
Iggy: “Rasheed Wallace, body to body”
RJ: “I got Dikembe [Mutombo]. I got Alonzo [Mourning].”
Iggy: “I got Alonzo too.”
RJ: “You really think you got more bodies than me?”
Iggy: “Yeh! I got bodies!”
RJ: “More hops is one thing, but more bodies? I was a body collector bro.”
via @Rjeff24
Good Uniform Closet Edit here by @SBusny!
I'm fully expecting one of these two scenarios next month when #Rams release 2 NEW Alternate Uniforms:
Scenario 1:
- Modern Yellow
- Modern White & Blue
Scenario 2:
- 50s Yellow
- 60's White & Blue
#RamsHouse#RamsUpPodcast