Stephen A. Smith Wanted LeBron James To Play For The Iconic North Carolina Tar Heels: “He Would Have Been Heir Apparent To Michael Jordan”

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LeBron James is one of the greatest players to ever step foot onto an NBA court, and he did that by entering the league as an 18-year-old. He followed the blueprint of players like Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett that had previously skipped college and went straight to the NBA. James has obviously had tremendous success in the league over his career. 

However, the question of what college LeBron would go to is one that many people have wondered about for years. LeBron himself had said he would most likely go and play for his hometown Ohio State Buckeyes, but he recently revealed to WNBA stars Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird that he would have gone to either Duke or North Carolina, if not Ohio State.

Stephen A. Smith commented on LeBron’s revelation and shared how he always thought LeBron would have been perfect for the Tar Heels, while Kobe Bryant would have been perfect for Duke.

“You think about Jordan, Worthy, Kenny Smith, Vince Carter, Antawn Jamison, the list goes on and on. LeBron would have fit right into that culture. His personality was more fitting for UNC than Duke, in my estimation. He would have been phenomenal in either scenario. But LeBron James, at the Dean Dome, would have been the heir apparent to Michael Jordan, Vince Carter… Kobe would have went to Duke. Kobe told me that. Kobe Duke, LeBron is Carolina.”

LeBron’s career has been better served for not having gone to college, as he had an instant impact on the league. He was also hyped beyond comparison while he was still in high school, and the NBA was the only natural step for LeBron.

Considering the Tar Heels just lost in the NCAA Finals to the Kansas Jayhawks, a year with LeBron in the 2003-04 season may not have necessarily been a winning one, but it would have been extremely memorable.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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