Gone are the days when the NBA and MLB fans were into a brawl in their sheds. This time, the fans have gone across sports, comparing three athletes. On one end, it’s the Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum, and on the other, Phillies’ all-rounder Bryce Harper is on the comparison list. Also, it’s time for Shohei Ohtani to boast his contract as being the biggest deal in the history of MLB sports. 

The uproar among the fans is over one simple thing! Tatum recently landed on a massive five-year contract extension worth $314 million. Meanwhile, Phillies Harper got $330 million for a long 13 years, followed by Ohtani’s $700 million.

So, on whose end are the sports fans, and what exactly are they saying? Let’s look at the athlete’s achievements and unwrap the top fan reactions, some witty, funny, and passionate ones!

A glance into Jayson Tatum, Bryce Harper & Ohtani contracts

The Celtics went all out when it came to Jayson Tatum and signed a massive $314 million contract extension with the player. And why wouldn’t they given Tatum’s exceptional stats averaging 26.9 points with 8.1 rebounds and 47% shots from the field. With the new contract, Tatum has entered into a league of his own. He becomes the highest-paid basketball player in the history of NBA sports.

Also, he even surpassed his team-mate Jaylen Brown’s $304 contract with the Celtics. Additionally, the playoff run numbers truly signify his contract extension. While doing decent for the Celtics, his numbers amplified while coming into the playoffs. With a 25-point average, 9.7 rebounds, and 6.3 assists each game, the lad achieved 30 points six times.

Back in the swing of things, Bryce Harper is the name almost every baseball fan knows. His journey from being a young prodigy to one of the most renowned faces in MLB is simply inspiring. While playing for the Philadelphia Phillies, he signed an astonishing $330 million contract in 2019. Adding a few more million, he got a bonus of $20 million for his contribution to the Phillies. 

Hinting at his achievements, Harper won the National League’s Most Valuable Player award between 2015 and 2021. Also, he has several accolades, namely the Silver Slugger Award and the Hank Aaron Award, which highlight his astonishing offensive power.  

Coming down to the Dodger’s stat contract, the $700 million for 20 years was the biggest one in the history of MLB. We are halfway into 2024, and Ohtani is close to 30 home runs. Also, extending his RBI streak, he posted his 10th consecutive win against the Chicago White Sox. Batting at a career-high of .320 and 60 RBIs in 78 games, he certainly deserves the lucrative contract. Still, despite both the players being equally commendable, fans ’ fighting on social media seems unstoppable. 

Epic fan reactions on Tatum vs Harper & Ohtani’s contract numbers

Love and hate have been the norm for fans on social media. While some fans loved the NBA, one stood up to protect MLB’s mace. “One signed 5 years ago, one signed today, compare it to Ohtani or Soto in the future to be accurate.” Indeed, if we speak about Shohei Ohtani and Soto’s contract, they have been bombers. Recently, ‘Shotime’ Ohtani signed a massive $700 million contract for 20 years. While experts and MLB insiders predict Soto’s contract to cross $600 million in the future. 

On the other hand, another hardcore NBA fan came out in support of the sport, saying, “A single basketball player has more impact on his team than a baseball player does.” Without a doubt, in an NBA game, each player has more responsibilities. They have to run, pass, and score, and it drains a lot of energy. 

While NBA fans were creating a ruckus for baseball enthusiasts, another MLB fan came to the rescue. “MLB > NBA and the World Series is more fun to watch than the NBA Finals.” Undoubtedly, the MLB World Series holds its heritage apart from the NBA finals. A galore of fans come into the stadium, passionately cheering for their teams. Not just watching, fan comments just uplift the entire game’s aura. Recalling a recent incident when Juan Soto was injured. The fans were non-stop in calling out his name at the stadium. 

“Baseball players play longer and don’t fall off as hard as nba players out of their prime,” Another MLB enthusiast commented, citing the difference between the two sports. Analyzing MLB and NBA player tenures, the numbers are closer than the fans think. For MLB, the average player’s career lasts for 5.6 years. Meanwhile, for the NBA, it’s a bit lower at 4.5 years. However, if the players are in prime form, the MLB and NBA players can hint at a contract extension. This can certainly extend their tenure for a couple of more years. 

Eventually, as the scenario goes, the fight between MLB and NBA will be eternal. If we look closely at Bryce Harper, Ohtani, and Jayson Tatum’s achievements, they have been immaculate for their franchise What are your views on the two ace players from different sports? Let us know in the comments!