Last week, Joe Budden had ESPN’s prominent analyst Stephen A. Smith as a guest on his podcast. One of the central topics they explored was the comparison of Michael Jordan and LeBron James’ NBA legacies. The ongoing debate surrounding the basketball “Greatest of All Time” (GOAT) inspires passionate discussions, with people taking distinct positions.
During their discussion on this matter, Joe Budden initiated the debate, and Stephen A. Smith promptly underscored how Michael Jordan’s career clearly surpasses that of LeBron James. It appears that Shaquille O’Neal agrees with Smith’s viewpoint, as he shared a clip from this conversation on his Instagram story.
Although Stephen A. Smith refrained from openly criticizing LeBron James, he can be characterized as a staunch supporter of Michael Jordan in the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) debate. On several occasions, Smith consistently pointed out instances that bolster MJ’s claim as the ‘GOAT.’
In contrast, he contended that LeBron James forfeited his claim to that title after his team was swept by the Nuggets in this year’s postseason.
Stephen A. Smith leans towards Michael Jordan rather than LeBron James in the discussion of the Greatest of All Time (GOAT).
During his recent appearance on Joe Budden’s podcast, Stephen A. Smith delved into the ongoing debate surrounding the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) in basketball. In the conversation, SAS consistently emphasized how Michael Jordan had a significant impact on LeBron James’ development as a basketball player by serving as a role model.
Additionally, Smith provided a rationale for his ranking of Kobe Bryant behind Jordan and LeBron in this GOAT debate. He explained, “LeBron had to learn to emulate Jordan.
Agreed. I'm not particularly a diehard Jordan fan either
— Mr. Old Man (@netorarefanclub) December 30, 2023
MJ is just the GOAT if you seriously consider everything he's accomplished.
LeBron fans will say rings don't matter but forget their guy literally formed superteams in order to win rings https://t.co/EDAF5X7mMI
The primary reasons Kobe doesn’t surpass Jordan are, firstly, he occupied the same position as Jordan, and secondly, he played alongside Shaq for the first three seasons of his career. Otherwise, we might be having a discussion about Kobe’s position ahead of LeBron. That’s why I place LeBron second.”
To start his argument, Smith aimed to refresh everyone’s memory about Michael Jordan’s exceptional level of competitiveness during his prime. When Jordan made up his mind to score a significant number of points against an opponent, he would find a way to make it happen. Moreover, Jordan’s defensive skills added to his status as one of the most versatile players of his generation.
Possibly, the reason SAS places MJ above LeBron James or Kobe Bryant is because of how Jordan stood out among his peers. In LeBron’s era, he consistently has to prove himself against other basketball legends like Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and numerous others.
Conversely, Jordan managed to establish himself as the global basketball icon within just a few years, without facing such stiff competition. This might explain why Shaq endorsed MJ as the GOAT by echoing SAS’s message on his Instagram story.
Shaquille O’Neal consistently designates Michael Jordan as the ultimate Greatest of All Time (GOAT).
Shaquille O’Neal might give the impression of having differing views in the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) debate, but if fans pay close attention to his consistent position in this discussion, they will recognize his strong preference for Michael Jordan as the GOAT, placing him above LeBron James.
Shaq frequently shares his viewpoints with his Instagram followers and fans by posting various stories. In July, the Big Aristotle shared content that highlighted 21 reasons why Jordan deserved the title of the greatest basketball player of all time. Furthermore, just a few months earlier, Shaq playfully suggested that he and MJ would have formed an unbeatable duo if they had teamed up in the 1990s.
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