• Stephen A. Smith believes any list that doesn’t have LeBron James in the top five isn’t worth paying attention to
• Smith was shocked by The Ringer’s decision to place Jimmy Butler in ninth position over Devin Booker
• Smith has a problem with Kawhi Leonard at the eighth position because he doesn’t show up to play
The Ringer recently released its list of the top 25 NBA players heading into the 2023-24 NBA season. LeBron James’ snub from the top 10 didn’t sit well with fans.
James was placed at No. 12 by the sports network. Veteran NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith shared his thoughts on the list. Smith was fuming with some of the picks, including James at No. 12.
“The Ringer comes out with top 25 NBA players,” Smith said. “I saw the list. Nikola Jokic is at No. 1, no problem. Steph Curry No. 2, no problem. Giannis Antetokounmpo at No. 3, no problem. Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, Luka Doncic, no problem. I got a problem at No. 8 with Kawhi Leonard because damn it isn’t showing up to work a requirement?
“No. 9 Jimmy Butler. Damn, I love my brother Jimmy Butler, but No. 9 ahead of Devin Booker? Oh, I can’t do that. Ahead of Anthony Davis? No needs to be available for more games himself, but no, I can’t do that. Ahead of LeBron James? Ladies and gentlemen, let’s be real. LeBron James has to be in your top five. Can we stop? LeBron’s got to be your top 5. So 10, 11, and 12, to me, belongs ahead of Jimmy Butler.”
Any list that doesn’t have LeBron James in the top five isn’t worth paying attention to pic.twitter.com/GyhXVciA5I
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) July 25, 2023
LeBron James is 38 years old, but he led the Los Angeles Lakers to the 2023 Western Conference Finals while not even being completely healthy. Sure, the Lakers were swept in four games by the Denver Nuggets, but James’ ranking is way low.
On top of that, LeBron averaged 28.9 PPG, 8.3 RPG, and 6.8 APG during the regular season. So, it’s certainly unfair to see him at No. 12 on the list of the top 25 players in the NBA.
Can LeBron James Still Carry A Team To An NBA Championship?
LeBron James has remained among the best players in the NBA over the last two decades. But he’s human, after all.
James showed some signs of slowing down last season, albeit due to injuries. An Eastern Conference NBA executive believes James’ days of carrying teams to titles are over.
“I think things are cyclical,” an Eastern Conference executive said. “The reality is LeBron is older, so the guy that’s driven that for the prior 15 years isn’t in the position where he alone can will himself to championships anymore.”
Well, this isn’t the first time people have doubted LeBron James and it won’t be the last time. The King has proven his doubters wrong several times over the course of his career, and fans will hope he can do that once again in the 2023-24 NBA season.
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