Michael Phelps is not called the king of swimming for nothing. Even after so many years of his retirement, there has been no other swimmer who has even come close to breaking his records. As a kid, Phelps was always special. Raking up medals one after the other, the US swimming legend was a talent to watch out for since his early days. Soon, his immaculate talent in the chlorine-soaked waters bloomed and the entire world looked on in amazement at the birth of a legend.

It all started back at the Athens Olympics in 2004. Phelps clinched a total of eight medals. This made him sit on level pegging with the gymnast Alexander Dityatin. However, his 6 gold and two silver medals were just the beginning. Phelps went on to own the next three Olympic games to establish himself as an untouchable force in the world of swimming. Bestowed with the honor of being the most decorated Olympian of all time, Phelps has a total of 28 Olympic medals! 

However, now that he is retired, it gives the 39-year-old some leverage to delve into other sports. Likewise, the swimming legend recently had his predictions for the NBA knockout rounds! With the NBA season in full swing, teams are trying their best to make it to the playoffs. That would give them an opportunity to proceed further toward the coveted NBA ring. And there are a lot of teams on the hunt. 

While the crowd-favorite Los Angeles Lakers are in definite contention, there are teams like the Denver Nuggets making a case for themselves. But as per Phelps, his choice was slightly different. Giving his take on the matter, the 39-year-old said, “They’re always so much heavier than you think they are. We’re going next, KAT. KAT’s a homie, so probably going to New York.” Now, that’s quite an interesting choice. Surely, Karl Anthony Towns has had an impressive season so far. 

KAT is averaging a whopping 25.1 points per game with 13.1 rebounds and 3.1 assists. On the flip side, the Knicks too, have emerged as quite the team to beat this season. They have been enjoying an unbeaten run in the last three games. Thus, Phelps’ prediction might as well come true. However, fans, on the other hand, were thrilled to hear about the predictions. 

Fans left divided at Michael Phelps’ NBA prediction 

As soon as the news went viral, fans flocked to the comments section to express their opinions. One fan supported Michael Phelps’ prediction that the New York Knicks, led by Karl-Anthony Towns (KAT), have a strong chance in the NBA playoffs. Highlighting enthusiasm and aligning with Phelps’ view of the Knicks as contenders, the fan wrote, “He’s ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!!! #LetsGoKnicks #NewYork”. Given their recent winning streak and KAT’s stellar performance averaging 25.1 points and 13.1 rebounds per game, the Knicks fan appeared confident. 

While another X user chose to vary from Phelps’ prediction. The fan bluntly commented, “He’s wrong”. Despite KAT’s impressive performance and the Knicks’ current form, the fan might believe other teams or players, such as the Denver Nuggets or Los Angeles Lakers, have a stronger chance of succeeding in the NBA playoffs based on their consistency or overall team strength.

Another fan seemed to reflect disagreement with Michael Phelps’ prediction of Karl-Anthony Towns (KAT) and the New York Knicks advancing. Taking a dig at the swimming legend, another user wrote, “Bro getting a little old” While another NBA enthusiast did not seem to fully align with Phelps’ words, “Well, we will have to see about that.”

Another netizen humorously suggested that the Olympic veteran Michael Phelps, known for his athletic dominance in swimming, should join an NBA team as the “sixth man” i.e., key substitute player). “I’ve seen enough  Bring Phelps off the bench #6thman”, wrote the NBA fan. 

Another user, who couldn’t hold back the excitement and enthusiasm anymore, wrote, “That’s awesome news! Can’t wait to see the Knockout Rounds next week. It’s going to be so exciting to watch!”

Thus, after creating ripples in swimming, Phelps has donned the predictor’s hat for the NBA now. It remains to be seen whether his NBA forecast comes true or not.