The NBA debate regarding Michael Jordan vs. LeBron James has been a hot topic for a long time, to the point it’s become a staple on sports media. For years, talking heads such as Stephen A. Smith have leaned into the comparison, which is an irresistible topic for many fans.
As a result, Smith’s relationship with James has somewhat been shaped by the fact that Smith says Jordan was a better player than James. To wit, the ESPN personality recently told a story on Paul George’s podcast about an interaction he had with James’s agent and close friend, Rich Paul, about the subject.
“I got him as the second-best player in the history of basketball. I got him ahead of Kareem. I got him behind nobody but Jordan,” Smith said. “I said to Mr. Chirper himself, Rich Paul, ‘You act like that’s an insult.’ This dude [says], ‘It is an insult.’ I said, ‘Get the f— out of my face.’”
