Stephen A. Smith discrediting LeBron James’ 2016 title with NBA ‘stimulus’ claim has fans losing it: “Jordan sent the memo”

ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith has been on a tear against Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James ever since the confrontation controversy.

Stephen A. Smith discrediting LeBron James’ 2016 title with NBA ‘stimulus’ claim has fans losing it: “Jordan sent the memo”

Stephen A. Smith claims NBA helped LeBron James win 2016 Finals

LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers find themselves in a 1-3 hole against the Minnesota Timberwolves in the ongoing NBA Playoffs. They return home with the hope that they can turn the series around. But it might not be easy to come back from such a deficit.

Quite a few factors could deter them from advancing to the second round. For starters, JJ Redick might have induced fatigue in his top stars. He played them the entire second half in Game 4, which was not the way to play, especially when they have three games left in the series.

That caused fatigue, which might have played its part in the late-game misses and turnovers. Those end-of-game mistakes cost them a chance to return home with the series tied. However, Lakers fans are hopeful that James can steer them to a famous win, much like what he did in 2016.

That season, James led his Cleveland Cavaliers to what has been known to be the greatest turnaround in NBA Finals history. That win is part of his legacy and claim to the GOAT throne. However, sworn critic Stephen A. Smith believes the NBA helped the Akron native.

This is the 6th time LeBron James finds himself in a postseason down 3-1. The only time he’s won, is when the league granted him that stimulus package and suspended Draymond Green.

Stephen A. Smith said

As soon as he said this, the others on his panel, Kendrick Perkins, Brian Windhorst, and Molly Qerim, all rolled their eyes. Perkins and Windhorst, in particular, did not have to support James now after all that transpired of late. But even they knew Smith was doing his part to continue maligning the Lakers’ superstar.

Fans tear into Stephen A. Smith for discrediting LeBron James

Basketball fans are aware that LeBron James not scoring a single point in the fourth quarter of Game 4 will be a talking point in the media. But they believe Stephen A. Smith using the opportunity to throw further slander at LeBron James was uncalled for.

Everyone knows he is still sour about how that discourse ended. But to discredit one of the greatest achievements of the 40-year-old’s career based on one factor was getting a bit too much. Fans flooded social media with all sorts of comments. Examples of those reactions are below.

Some fans agree that Draymond Green‘s absence in Game 5 did help the Cleveland Cavaliers steal a win. However, many also point out that James dominated Game 6 with Green on the floor. Therefore, Smith’s argument is invalidated, but fans know why he is doing this.

Dwight Howard believes James has a chance to silence critics

LeBron James might be too exhausted to return to his 2016 NBA Finals-winning form. His Los Angeles Lakers might also not have the personnel to tackle the Minnesota Timberwolves. But in the event they can, James’ former teammate Dwight Howard believes it can tilt the GOAT debate.

If LeBron comes back from 3-1 at 40 I don’t wanna even hear about a GOAT debate.

Dwight Howard wrote on X

The soon-to-be Hall of Famer knows it will be difficult for James to pull it off at age 40. But if he can, Howard believes it will end the GOAT debate. If his words were to be true, the likes of Stephen A. Smith and the other veteran analysts who have been critical of James might not have anything left to say.

However, it is easier said than done. No one in the history of the game has played at this level at age 40. No matter how conditioned James is, age and all those miles on his body are a major deterrent. Game 5 will prove if he is determined to alter the course of history.

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