Stephen A. Smith Says It’s Time to End the LeBron vs. Jordan Greatest of All Time Debate

Stephen A. Smith believes it’s time for fans to put the LeBron James versus Michael Jordan debate to rest.

On Wednesday, Smith spoke about LeBron becoming the first player to score 50,000 career points, and he wasted no time praising the 40-year-old King James for playing at the level he’s at right now. Smith’s comments come after he had some contentious words for the four-time NBA champion regarding his thoughts about the negativity players face from the media. According to Smith, James has been “phenomenal,” and fans should drop the debates between Bron and MJ. 

"He's been absolutely phenomenal," said Smith. "I'm going to sit up here today... although he annoyed the living hell out of me last week with all of that nonsense he was talking. In the end, the greatness that he has put on display. For as long as he has put it on display. I'll even go a step further. Knowing how I feel about Jordan—and I think anybody that knows basketball agrees with me—I actually think it's time to not even have the debate anymore.”

He added, “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. But it's not the 50,000 points. It's not even the way he looked last night. It's not even the way he's looked this month. It's the fact that I'm watching this brother with Anthony Davis, without Anthony Davis. With Luka, without Luka. I mean this dude right here—and I'm looking at a guy at 40 years of age who's in better shape than 98% of the league.”

Smith went on to say LeBron deserves “all the props in the world” doing what he’s doing at 40 years old in his 22nd total season. All this came after Smith went on a five-minute rant against LeBron after he spoke on Anthony Edwards not wanting to be the face of the NBA. 

In that rant, Smith said he didn’t agree with LeBron’s statement about the media negatively covering players and proceeded to big himself up by saying no one loves the game or the industry more than himself. 

“No matter what we say about these players, it’s always something for them to complain about. And I’m not saying there aren’t justifiable situations where you’re a player you should be able to clap back. But everything?” said Smith. “And then when he talks about people covering the league, we know he talking about people like me. Damn it, I’m going to say it, I’m going to be cocky enough to say I’m one of the people he alluded to."

He continued: "That’s nonsense! I challenge anybody to show somebody who loves the NBA and supports the NBA more than me… What other show you see on national television talking about the NBA more than me outside of NBA TV? Nobody!”