The argument over the NBA’s greatest player of all time continues to divide basketball fans. The GOAT debate typically comes down to Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has discussed the topic a ton over the years, but he recently tried to put an end to the debate by shooting down James’ case.
Stephen A. Smith Reignites GOAT Debate With Michael Jordan Over LeBron James Verdict
Smith and James have had some beef over the years, but even before there was tension between the two, he has always maintained that Jordan is his GOAT pick. Recently, on NFL legend Chad Johnson’s podcast “The Late Run Show,” Smith made the case for Jordan.
“(James) played 23 years; he still has two fewer titles than Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan played all 82 games [nine] times. How many times did LeBron do it?” Smith said. “Michael Jordan is a 10-time scoring champion. How many times did LeBron do it? Michael Jordan is a nine-time All-NBA Defensive Player. How many times has LeBron done it? There is nothing to discuss. Michael Jordan averaged over 30 in the postseason [12] times. How many times did LeBron do it? There’s nothing to discuss. He is approaching Year 24 and still has two less titles.”
To answer Smith’s questions, James has only played all 82 games one time. He is a one-time scoring champion (in 2008). He has made six All-Defensive Teams. He has averaged over 30 points in the playoffs six times.
The tension between James and Smith dates back to last year when Smith made remarks about James’ son, Bronny James, which was not well received by the Los Angeles Lakers star. It’s worth noting that Smith has also been complimentary of James, as Smith said in March that if he were building a case for James as the GOAT, his strongest argument would be the unprecedented longevity of reaching a 23rd NBA season while remaining productive.
As for the James vs. Jordan debate, Jordan maintains a slight edge in scoring average; across 1,072 regular-season games, Jordan averaged 30.1 points per game, compared to James’ 26.8 points per game. However, James is the NBA’s all-time leading scorer due to his longevity. Jordan shot 49.7% from the field, while James holds a narrow advantage in field-goal percentage at 50.7%.
Across Jordan’s 179 playoff games, he averaged 33.4 points per game compared to 28.2 PPG for James across 302 postseason contests. However, James has always been more of a pass-first player while Jordan was more of a scorer. James has the clear advantage as a facilitator, averaging 7.2 assists in the playoffs and 7.4 assists in the regular season. Meanwhile, Jordan averaged 5.7 APG in the postseason and 5.3 APG in the regular season.
James also has the advantage as a rebounder, averaging 8.9 RPG in the playoffs and 7.5 RPG in the regular season compared to 6.4 RPG in the playoffs and 6.2 RPG in the regular season.
“I never have compared myself to MJ because our games are totally different,” James told ESPN. “I have been a point-forward/forward-point my whole life. I have always looked for the pass. MJ kind of looked for the shot. Not kind of, he did; he looked for the shot.”
Meanwhile, supporters of James’ GOAT candidacy often point to his longevity and versatility. He is the first player to suit up for 23 NBA seasons and he continues to produce at an elite level despite being in his 40s.
Despite the endless debate among fans and analysts, neither James nor Jordan has spent much time arguing over the GOAT label. Jordan himself has previously said that comparing players from different eras is difficult because every generation competes under unique circumstances, rules, and styles of play.
