Stephen A. Smith FIRES BACKS at Kevin Garnett, using 4x NBA champion LeBron James to prove his point 

Kevin Garnett responds to Anthony Edwards' dismissal of the old generation as "unskilled," igniting a debate on NBA eras with Stephen A. Smith.

Stephen A. Smith FIRES BACKS at Kevin Garnett, using 4x NBA champion LeBron James to prove his point 

Stephen A. Smith, LeBron James and Kevin Garnett

The debate and controversy ignited by Minnesota Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards have reached new heights, with ESPN presenter Stephen A. Smith adding his own two cents to the heated conversation during a recent episode of ‘The Stephen A. Smith Show.’ SAS questioned former NBA player, Kevin Garnett‘s earlier take on the matter.

On his show ‘KG Certified’, Kevin Garnett boldly questioned whether today’s players could have succeeded 20 or 30 years ago. Never one to shy away from a debate, Stephen A. Smith countered by arguing that modern stars like Lakers’ LeBron James and Warriors’ Stephen Curry would have thrived in the past.

You can't tell me that a LeBron [James] at 6'9" 260 [pounds] couldn't deal with the physicality of the old days because he would've been hurting people. Steph Curry could've played in the old days because you just don't teach shooting ability like that… LeBron James? Any era.
Stephen A. Smith said on the Stephen A. Smith Show

However, it’s unclear whether Garnett was referring specifically to the younger players currently in the league or if his statement applied to the entire group of active players. That said, it’s fair to acknowledge that while the physicality of the Michael Jordan era was more intense, the overall talent level in today’s NBA has significantly improved.

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Notably, the evolution of the three-point shot serves as a key point of comparison between the two eras, as today’s players have nearly mastered the art of shooting from beyond the arc. This was recently evidenced by Draymond Green, who rightfully surpassed Celtics legend Larry Bird on the all-time three-point shot list.

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LeBron James’ future plans have him looking at being a team owner 

LeBron James doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon as he prepares to enter his 22nd season as a professional player. He now has the opportunity to chase his fifth ring while potentially making history by playing alongside his son, Bronny.

Furthermore, he has expressed interest in owning an NBA franchise post-retirement, with Las Vegas potentially hosting an expansion team. This ambition was revealed by his business partner, Maverick Carter, who confirmed King James’ desire to transition into ownership once he concludes his playing career.

LeBron is dead set on owning an NBA team. But he’s still playing and I have no idea how much longer he’s gonna play. I would’ve thought that he would be done a few years ago but he’s out there with the beard now with the grey still letting the young guys know that grandpops is out here still ballin.
Maverick Carter on the Pat McAfee Show

However, this might not happen anytime soon, as NBA rules prohibit active players from owning teams. Nonetheless, James signed a near-max contract with the Lakers this offseason, which Lakers owner Jeanie Buss considers a bargain. This deal ensures that fans will get to enjoy his presence on the court for at least one more year, with the future of his playing career still uncertain.

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