“My mind on this specific topic will never change – LeBron James is No 2 all-time and Michael Jordan is No 1,” Stephen A. Smith was only saying this last year. Fo as long as his time covering James goes, that’s been the reputed analyst’s opinion. Even when James’ comments about the face of the league sparked some difference, Smith felt the 40-year-old was made because he doesn’t consider him the GOAT. It’s barely been a week since then.
Fast forward to today, Smith made a shocking comment. “Jordan wasn’t this good for that long. Not this period,” he said on First Take. Did he just relinquish the GOAT title away from the best basketball he has ever seen? The answer isn’t that simple. Upon LeBron James hitting 50,000 points and coming off a Player of The Month win, Stephen A. Smith just couldn’t ignore the nature of his longevity.
“Listening to Brian Windhorst bringing up this nugget there’s nobody who has been as good for as long meaning longevity. A sustained level of pristine excellence, LeBron James is the goat in that category,” Smith explained. He still thinks at their peak, Michael Jordan is the superior basketball player.
Feb 6, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) reacts during the second half at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
However, as far as the GOAT of the NBA, 22 years of greatness and consistency far exceeds Jordan’s spell in Smith’s eyes. “I actually think it’s time to not even have the debate anymore because that’s how great LeBron James has been for as long as he has been that great. I can stand down and acknowledge that because this is absolutely phenomenal,” Stephen A. Smith marveled.
But this has been the crux of the debate arguably since LeBron James was averaging nearly 30 points in Year 20? Even then Smith refused to give the King the GOAT crown. So what made him change his mind? “You can’t ignore that category you can’t ignore somebody that’s continuously great for 22 years, Jordan only played 15,” Smith proclaims.
In terms of ranking, he will still put His Airness ahead of James. However, the body of work and meticulous discipline LeBron James has displayed over two decades is powerful enough even to change the strongest of minds it seems.
The post Stephen A. Smith Finally Declares LeBron James as GOAT as He Stuns ESPN Colleagues With Unexpected Reasoning appeared first on EssentiallySports.
