Browns' Garrett: 'I have to prove that I'm LeBron'

The last major sports franchise to bring a championship to Cleveland was the 2016 Cavaliers that LeBron James, Kyrie Irving, and Kevin Love led, and Myles Garrett believes the Browns also have the makings of a superteam after adding Jadeveon Clowney and Malik Jackson to their defense.

"I've got my Kyrie and my Love? Well, hell, I have to prove that I'm LeBron first before anything," the star pass-rusher said to Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon Journal. "I have to prove that I'm the playmaker at all levels. Hell, he's top three in any debate that you have."

Though Garrett is an elite defender who's often considered for Defensive Player of the Year, the 25-year-old knows he has a long way to go before being on the four-time NBA champion and league MVP's level.

But the defensive end is rising to that plateau after recording 12 sacks and being named a first-team All-Pro last season. He's notched 42.5 career sacks over four campaigns, but Garrett believes one issue is holding him back from reaching his peak: availability.

Garrett has played a full season just once. He was suspended in 2019 for hitting Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph with a helmet, and the 2017 first overall pick missed two games last year due to COVID-19.

"The guys who were in the talks to win DPOY, (TJ) Watt and (Aaron) Donald, great players, but I was right among them before I was hit with COVID," Garrett said. "They didn't get it. So they were available. They were on the field, and they took care of themselves.

"That's on me for not doing that - however I got it - and I've got to make sure I'm available this year for my team, for the individual goals that I have, and for whatever run we'll have in the playoffs."