Comparisons between LeBron James and Michael Jordan are part of the NBA every single day. The GOAT debate is still a recurrent topic among fans and they don’t miss a chance to make the case for their favorite players. Everybody has something to say about it and even though nobody has changed the mind of another person with their arguments, this keeps happening.
The media is fueling this debate whenever they can and recently, ESPN was discussing who between LeBron and Jordan has been more influential for the public. Analyst Stephen A. Smith made the case for LeBron, claiming that he’s been more influential than MJ in the last 3 decades.
“I would never put LeBron James ahead of Michael Jordan under any circumstances but I must confess in the aftermath of George Floyd’s killing and all the social justice issues that have taken place, you start thinking about what the nation needs and — it’s not to say that Jordan was silent or voiceless because he certainly was not but LeBron being younger, being apart of today’s generation with the advent of social media and beyond. Taking into account his reach and willingness to be a face and a voice to so very issues that are very very pertinent in this nation right now and throughout the world right now, I would have to give him that edge and I’ve never felt that way before until recently. In terms of what’s transpired. I always think about pioneers who led the way, you never wanna dismiss their contributions before you take the opportunity to really elevate or appreciate someone else because the pioneers who set the table played a profound role.”
Smith reminded everybody that Jordan took the NBA to the next level, becoming a sport for the masses and not only for a certain population in America. He credited Magic Johnson for becoming a successful businessman after his career was over, paving the way for the next generation but ultimately putting LeBron ahead of these two.
“I just right now, at this particular moment of time, I would have to say when you look at it in its totality, I gotta give it to LeBron James because of what has transpired in the immediate past,” Smith finished.
LeBron keeps talking about social issues that concern everybody around the country and he’s been very active in trying to help underprivileged people with donations and his own program to help young people get an education. As Smith said, his stance on that matter changed recently; back in 2019, he put Jordan as the 2nd most influential athlete of all time behind Muhammad Ali while LeBron was 5th.
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You can love him or hate him but LeBron has done a lot for the least fortunate and nobody can change that. He has been great on and off the court and he doesn’t seem to be stopping that.
