Stephen A. Smith and Kenny Smith Agree LeBron James Is Closer to Michael Jordan’s GOAT Status

Lakers superstar LeBron James' recent regular-season and postseason performances have silenced his critics.

Stephen A. Smith and Kenny Smith Agree LeBron James Is Closer to Michael Jordan’s GOAT Status

LeBron James, Kenny Smith, and Stephen A. Smith (Image via FirstSportz)

In Short
  • LeBron James is gaining recognition for his performance in the playoffs, moving closer to Michael Jordan's GOAT status.
  • Stephen A. Smith and Kenny Smith both agree that LeBron's leadership at 41 years old is impressive.
  • Analysts and former players are acknowledging LeBron's unique impact on the game, contrasting him with Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.

With Game 3 of their first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets approaching, all eyes are on LeBron James and his teammates.

When the final buzzer sounded at the end of the first game, many felt that the Lakers’ win was just a result of Kevin Durant not playing. They believed that once the ‘Slim Reaper’ returned, the situation would return to normal.

After all, they are the same people who claimed that sans Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, the men in purple and gold had no chance of winning this series.

But in Game 2, against a Kevin Durant-led Rockets, LeBron James shone again. Now, the conversations started changing to where his critics acknowledged what the 41-year-old was doing.

Now your C option is leading guys who were probably just space guys… LeBron James has moved a slight bit closer to the legacy of Michael Jordan in my mind. It is incredible that a guy who is 41 years old is leading a team in this way.

Kenny Smith said

As soon as ‘The Jet’ said this, First Take host Stephen A. Smith added:

I agree with you. He’s moving closer to that GOAT status…You can’t say enough about LeBron James, he has been absolutely phenomenal.

Stephen A. Smith said

The ESPN $100m man has recently started to change his tune about the ‘King,’ but admitting to Kenny Smith‘s point that LeBron James is inching closer to their GOAT, Michael Jordan, was a first.

Former rival details how LeBron James differs from Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant

While analysts clamor to give LeBron James his flowers, former players, particularly those who have been critical of the four-time champion, have been relatively quiet.

When you play against MJ, you are in awe. It’s like, ‘Is this real?’… When you play against Kobe, it’s a fear. He really trying to embarrass you… When you play against LeBron, there’s nothing you can do… He’s bigger than you, he’s faster than you, he’s stronger than you… You are… hopeless with LeBron.

Stephen Jackson said

This was 14-season veteran Stephen Jackson, who played against Michael Jordan during the latter’s Washington Wizards’ spell. Then he spent most of his time guarding Kobe Bryant.

Jackson also has extensive experience playing against LeBron James during his five-and-a-half-season stint in the Eastern Conference. From that collective knowledge, he deduced that LeBron James is a completely different animal when it comes to the game.

While most harp about Jordan and the late Bryant’s fear they instilled in their opponents, the All the Smoke co-host was clear that dealing with the Los Angeles Lakers superstar leaves opponents hopeless.’

Brian Windhorst wanted ESPN to prepare for LeBron James’ retirement

Currently, it seems that the Houston Rockets are the latest to feel ‘hopeless’ watching a 41-year-old LeBron James flip a switch and take over.

LeBron James did struggle initially this season
LeBron James did struggle initially this season (Image via NBA TV/X)

No one saw this coming, which is why a certain Brian Windhorst went so far as to ask his ESPN bosses to start planning for the Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar’s retirement.

I had a meeting with my bosses, and I go, ‘You know, we may need to start our content planning for him retiring. Because he looks for the first time like an old man who can’t compete.’

Brian Windhorst said on The Dan Patrick Show

Windy, as he is affectionately known, made it clear that at the start of the season, there was a reason why everyone was criticizing LeBron James. Even he did not envision the four-time league MVP switching roles on the fly as his conditioning improved.

Now, Windhorst will likely set aside those retirement tour notes he had already made, as even he knows there is no chance James will leave the game while playing at this level.

Also Read: