On the latest episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, the ever-vocal Stephen A. Smith came to LeBron James’ defense in response to Scottie Pippen’s recent remarks on the PBD Podcast. Pippen, a six-time NBA champion with the Chicago Bulls, stated that his success as a team player, which included not “chasing championships,” placed him above LeBron in the basketball hierarchy. Unsurprisingly, Stephen A. took exception to these claims.
“Scottie Pippen, six-time NBA champion, Hall of Famer, one of the top 75 players in the history of basketball who recently sat down with Patrick Bet David and turned heads with a lot of things that he was saying, that quite frankly, I felt were utterly nonsensical.”
“Scottie, come on bro excuse my language that’s some straight bulls**t, stop. Challenge anybody to find me, a better defensive player than Scottie Pippen. Michael Jordan has said on many occasions he doesn’t win six rings without Scottie and I get that.”
“Scottie, you would never that dude offensively, stop it now. I’m as critical of LeBron James as anybody who’s fair-minded, not these haters out here. I’m neither a hater nor am I the one, that kisses his tush every chance you get.”
“LeBron James is one of the top 2-3 players in the history of basketball and you know it. How do we know you know that, there’s certain times you flirted with him being better than Michael Jordan and you know that’s blasphemy but you were never that offensive player.”
“Scottie you know how we know because when Jordan retired the first go around you had an opportunity to be that dude, you were an All-Star, you won All-Star game MVP, you took them to the Eastern Conference semi-finals, the Hugh Hollands call was awful.”
“But Scotty Pippen, you didn’t get it done and if you were that dude how come you couldn’t be like Kobe and be like yo, ‘I want Shaq gone, I want to show you what the hell I could do without Shaq.'”
“In your case without Michael Jordan… You kicked up your feet to show you were wearing Jordans, begging him to stop playing baseball and come back, you forgot that Scottie?
“The hell are you talking about and we can accuse LeBron James of a lot of things the brother got four rings, Scottie, he’s got four. He’s been to 10 NBA finals and by the way he never had a migraine in a game seven it never happened, only do you.”
Smith didn’t mince words, calling Pippen’s comments “utterly nonsensical” and accusing the Hall of Famer of hypocrisy. He acknowledged Pippen’s unparalleled defensive skills and his essential role in the Bulls’ six championships but emphasized that Pippen’s offensive contributions were not at the level of players like LeBron James.
He pointed to Pippen’s inability to elevate the Bulls past the Eastern Conference Finals during Michael Jordan’s first retirement as evidence that Pippen thrived as a second option but struggled as a primary star.
Smith argued that LeBron’s career achievements, including four NBA titles, 10 Finals appearances, and his all-around dominance over two decades, speak volumes about his greatness.
During his appearance on the PBD Podcast, Pippen positioned himself as a superior “team player” to LeBron, citing his six championships as the defining metric. He downplayed LeBron’s achievements, stating that James pursued titles by joining star-studded teams in Miami, Cleveland, and Los Angeles.
Pippen emphasized that his success came without “chasing” championships, which he considered a purer approach to greatness. However, Smith criticized Pippen’s framing, pointing out that Pippen’s success was inextricably tied to Jordan.
Smith’s rebuttal highlighted the contrast between LeBron’s adaptability and Pippen’s reliance on a system built around Jordan. While Pippen thrived as the perfect complementary star, LeBron has proven capable of carrying franchises in various environments, leading multiple rosters to championships.
LeBron’s individual accolades—four MVPs, 13 All-NBA First Team selections, and being the league’s all-time leading scorer—further distinguish him. Smith emphasized that while Pippen’s defensive greatness and team-first mentality deserve respect, they don’t equate to the level of all-around dominance LeBron has achieved.
Smith closed his monologue by acknowledging the subjectivity of basketball’s GOAT debate. He credited Pippen for being a critical part of one of the greatest dynasties but argued that Pippen’s attempt to diminish LeBron’s legacy was both inaccurate and unfair.
As always, Smith’s passionate defense left no room for ambiguity, ensuring that the debate between team accomplishments and individual greatness continues to spark heated discussions among fans and analysts alike.
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