Stephen A. Smith has officially called for an end to the long-standing LeBron James vs. Michael Jordan GOAT debate, recognizing LeBron’s unprecedented longevity and sustained excellence.
On First Take, Smith made a bold statement, acknowledging Jordan as the greatest player at his peak but declaring that LeBron’s ability to remain dominant for over two decades is an entirely separate feat that deserves its own category.
“Well, it’s a phenomenal feat. It’s never been done. The man is absolutely sensational. He’s on the Mount Rushmore of basketball.”
“I saw Windy talking on Get Up this morning, and I’ve decided that, on this particular morning, I’m gonna make some news. I know, and we all know, I’m putting nobody ahead of Michael Jordan—nobody, okay? And I stand on it. Because my definition of the GOAT is you at your best against anybody else at their best—what did it equal?”
“But in listening to Brian Windhorst bring up this nugget, there’s nobody who has been as good for as long, meaning longevity—a sustained level of pristine excellence. LeBron James is the GOAT in that category.”
“I don’t think LeBron’s best eclipses Michael Jordan’s best. In other words, what Windy said—nobody has been this good for this long. And I’m saying to you, because that’s the reality, I feel the way that I feel—that Jordan at his best is the greatest that I’ve ever seen. But Jordan wasn’t this good for this long.”
“Not for this period—this 22 years. LeBron James wins Player of the Month in 2005, and 20 years later, he wins Player of the Month again. I mean, the brother is shooting 40-something percent from three-point range, rather 55% from the field.”
“He’s been absolutely phenomenal. I’m going to sit up here today—although he annoyed the living hell out of me last week, you know, with all of that nonsense he was talking—but in the end, the greatness that he has put on display for as long as he has put it on display?”
“I’ll even go a step further, knowing how I feel about Jordan—and I think anybody that knows basketball agrees with me.”
“I actually think it’s time to not even have the debate anymore because that’s how great LeBron James has been for as long as he has been that great. I can stand down and acknowledge that because this is absolutely phenomenal.”
“But it’s not the 50,000 points. It’s not even the way he’s looked last night. It’s not even the way he’s looked this month. It’s the fact that I’m watching this brother with Anthony Davis, without Anthony Davis, with Luka, without Luka.”
“I mean, this dude right here—I’m looking at a guy at 40 years of age who’s in better shape than 98% of the league, if not more, at age 40 in his 22nd season. LeBron James, especially on a morning like this, deserves all the props in the world, and I’m gonna give it to him.”
"Jordan at his best is the greatest that I have ever seen. But Jordan wasn't that good for that long."
Stephen A. Smith weighs in on the GOAT conversation between Michael Jordan and LeBron James 🗣️
(via @FirstTake)pic.twitter.com/XImabyVfNs
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 5, 2025
Smith, who has long held Jordan as the undisputed GOAT, admitted that no one in NBA history has been as great for as long as LeBron has. He highlighted how James, at 40 years old, is still competing at an elite level, recently winning his 41st Western Conference Player of the Month award—an accomplishment spanning a 20-year gap from when he won his first at age 20.
LeBron’s latest achievement, reaching 50,000 career points (regular season and playoffs combined), further cemented his legacy as one of the game’s all-time greats. He became the first player in NBA history to hit that milestone, a record that may stand for decades. Even fellow superstar Luka Doncic reacted to LeBron’s milestone, joking that at this pace, he might reach 70,000 points.
The fact that James is still competing at an MVP level in Year 22, maintaining averages of 24.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 8.6 assists per game, proves that his ability to sustain greatness is unparalleled.
Another major factor in the debate is LeBron’s adaptability. Over the course of his career, he has evolved his game to fit different eras and team needs, transitioning from an explosive slasher to a playmaking forward to an elite three-point shooter.
He is currently shooting over 40% from beyond the arc while maintaining a field goal percentage above 55%. His ability to impact the game in multiple ways at age 40 is something Smith believes should no longer be overlooked.
LeBron’s GOAT case will always be debated, but Smith believes the conversation should shift. Instead of constantly comparing him to Jordan, fans should appreciate the fact that James has achieved something truly unprecedented.
His combination of longevity, durability, and elite play at an advanced age is something no other player in history has accomplished. The debate may never end for die-hard fans, but as far as Smith is concerned, LeBron’s greatness has earned him a category of his own.
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