Stephen A. Smith has never shied away from reigniting the Kobe Bryant vs. LeBron James debate, and this week he did so again with a pointed comparison that cut to the heart of the Lakers’ darkest years. On Gils Arenas, Smith acknowledged Kobe’s greatness and five championships, but then made the case for why LeBron’s consistency gives him the edge in the GOAT hierarchy.
“We look at Kobe, he’s a five-time champion. A lot of people put him ahead of LeBron because of that. I think Kobe was a killer, God rest his soul. The brother would give it to you. And it’s not to say he didn’t play defense, because in his prime, he was an elite defender.”
“The flip side, though, is when you’re playing with Shaq and the rest of that crew, and then ultimately Gasol and Bynum, you had a crew. When you struggled, you really struggled. That was never LeBron.”
“When you look at LeBron, he took that team to the Finals, even though they got swept by San Antonio, but you saw what he did. Everywhere he’s been, teams have elevated. You can’t take that away from him.”
“He’s 6’9”, 260 pounds, he can play inside and out, he’s lethal in the open court, he can step up defensively. He brings so many things to his arsenal, and he creates mismatches better than most.”
“So when you look at him, along with the four championships, you have to respect it. As bad as the Lakers were in Kobe’s final few years, would that ever have happened with LeBron? The answer is no. With LeBron James, no team would have been as bad as those Lakers were.”
Smith’s argument centers on a simple truth: LeBron has avoided disastrous seasons in a way Kobe never did. In 22 years, James has had only three losing seasons, with his worst record being 33–49 in the 2021–22 campaign with the Lakers.
Even when he lacked star teammates in Cleveland, he elevated his roster to respectability, winning 35 games as a rookie and reaching 42–40 in his second year. By 2007, he carried an undermanned Cavaliers squad to the NBA Finals.
By contrast, Kobe’s career includes five losing seasons in 20 years, with his final three campaigns ranking among the worst stretches in Lakers history: records of 27–55, 21–61, and a particularly painful 17–65 in 2015–16.
Smith did not deny Kobe’s brilliance. He praised the Black Mamba’s killer instinct, his defensive excellence in his prime, and his five championships won alongside stars like Shaquille O’Neal and Pau Gasol. But Smith stressed that when Kobe was left without enough support, the Lakers’ collapse was dramatic.
From missing the playoffs in 2004–05 after Shaq’s departure to limping through his post-Achilles years, Bryant endured stretches LeBron has never come close to matching.
The statistical comparison supports Smith’s claim. LeBron’s five worst seasons include records of 33–49, 35–47, 37–45, 42–40, and 43–39. Even at his lowest, James’ teams never hit rock bottom.
Kobe’s five worst seasons, however, include the 17-win nightmare of 2015–16, the 21–61 mark in 2014–15, and 27–55 in 2013–14. Four of the five worst campaigns in Lakers history happened during Kobe’s era, while LeBron has never allowed a team to sink below the mid-30s in wins.
Of course, context matters. Kobe’s final years came after devastating injuries, most notably the torn Achilles in 2013, and the Lakers prioritized celebrating his farewell tour over assembling a contender.
LeBron, meanwhile, is still competing at a high level deep into his career, and in Year 22, he helped a team win 50 games with Luka Doncic as his co-star. Critics argue that it’s unfair to hold Kobe’s twilight against him, while LeBron has benefited from better roster management late in his career.
Still, Smith’s larger point resonates: LeBron’s presence guarantees a baseline of competitiveness. Everywhere he has gone, Cleveland, Miami, Los Angeles, teams have elevated. His four championships, ten Finals appearances, and unmatched versatility make it difficult to imagine him ever being at the helm of a 17-win team.
This is why Smith refuses to place Kobe ahead of LeBron in the GOAT debate. For all of Bryant’s rings, killer instinct, and Jordan-like flair, his lowest valleys drag down his case compared to James’ sustained excellence.
And while Michael Jordan still looms above both in Smith’s rankings, the harsh truth he delivered this week reignites a debate that will never truly die in Los Angeles.
