Stephen A. Smith is not shy about giving his opinions and doesn’t care if they are right or wrong, and the same goes for his views on LeBron James. On Tuesday’s edition of ESPN’s First Take, he made a bold declaration about the Los Angeles Lakers star, claiming he is making a case this season that he could be the greatest NBA player of all time.
The comments came after the Lakers suffered a 12-point loss to the Detroit Pistons on Monday night.
James finished with 12 points in 39 minutes, adding a double-double with 10 assists, demonstrating that his impact extends beyond scoring.
Smith framed his argument by first acknowledging his longstanding view that Michael Jordan is the NBA’s GOAT. Yet he emphasized that James deserves consideration for the title based on his continued excellence.
LeBron James unbelievable multiple handshakes with Lakers teammates
“The greatest case for LeBron James being the G.O.A.T., in my opinion, is being made by him this year. … The Lakers are in a better position than most people anticipated,” Smith said.
“He gets to the basket. He leads the NBA in fast-break points…..he is doing whatever it takes in order for the Lakers to win basketball games,” Smith added.
LeBron still breaking records
This season, James continues to break records. Most recently, he passed Robert Parish for the most regular-season games played in NBA history.
“It’s not like I’m like writing things down and looking at the record book and saying: ‘I’m going to get that, I’m going to get that, I’m going to get that.’ It just kind of happened,” James said.
“It was not on the list of things that I wanted to accomplish.”
Despite the Lakers dropping to 46-26 after the Pistons defeat and having their nine-game winning streak snapped, Smith insists that James is the reason the team remains in a strong position for the playoffs.
“I think the Lakers are in a better position than most people anticipated, and that has everything to do with LeBron James,” Smith reiterated.
Is LeBron truly the GOAT?
The discussion around GOAT status goes beyond numbers, it’s also about leadership, impact, and longevity.
James‘s ability to consistently lead a team deep into the season while achieving historic milestones cements his standing among basketball’s elite.
As the Lakers prepare to face the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, fans and analysts alike will be watching closely to see if James can continue his unprecedented run, adding more evidence to the case that he may indeed be the greatest player to ever step on the hardwood.
Whether Smith‘s argument sways die-hard Michael Jordan supporters remains to be seen, but the conversation surrounding LeBron James and his legacy is as alive as ever.
This season may not just be about wins and losses, it’s about defining history, and James is leading the charge.
