Outspoken ESPN host Stephen A. Smith has exploded in a massive rant against LeBron James’ recent comments that he would have been just as dominant without going to the Miami Heat.
James and Michael Jordan are widely considered the two players in the conversation for the GOAT status, with MJ’s six rings often held up as to why he is the greatest.
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James can’t compete with that, having won four titles, including his first two with Miami. However, he’s also lost six, despite remarkable longevity over 21 seasons in the NBA, where he’s been a 19-time All-Star, four-time MVP, four-time NBA Finals MVP, and a whole host of records that would take too long to list here.
But while James secured his first two rings and last two MVP titles during his four-season stint at South Beach, he told ESPN his legacy wouldn’t be much different if he never went to Miami.
“I think I would still be at this level no matter if I would’ve came here or not,” he shared.
“Let’s not get it twisted: The four years I was here, it was amazing. I loved everything about it. Loved this franchise, this franchise is top tier, it’s one of the best franchises in the world.
“But as far as my career, my career was going to be my career as far as individually, because I know how much I put into the game and I know how much I strived to be as great as I can be. As far as what I was able to learn here was second to none, that’s for sure.”
James also tweeted out a response to the story from Legion Hoops, writing: “You damn right I would still be!” James wrote. “I’m CHOSEN! Ain’t nothing changing that! Maybe less but DOMINANT from start to finish.”
But the comments haven’t gone down well across the board, with ESPN’s First Take hosts Stephen A. Smith and Shannon Sharpe hit back at the comments.
Asked if he agreed with what LeBron had said, Sharpe began: “Hell no.
“I vehemently disagree. I strenuously disagree with what he said. At the time that he arrived at Miami, he had two regular season MVPs and one Finals appearance through his first seven seasons.
“LeBron, do you realised why you got to the GOAT conversation is because of what transpired in Miami? You won two more Finals MVPs, you won two more regular season MVPs, you went to four more Finals — LeBron, how can you say that your career was going to be the same without going to Miami?
“LeBron, I’m not so sure I could make a compelling case … how do I make a case that he’s a top five player if he doesn’t go to Miami? I don’t understand why LeBron wants to be so dismissive.”
Sharpe said that LeBron’s well-publicised falling out with Miami president Pat Reilly was obviously a factor in his shock exit from the franchise.
But he said: “It’s okay to give the Miami Heat the credit that they deserve.”
Smith was in absolute agreement, tearing shreds of the NBA legend.
“What the hell is wrong with you LeBron?” Smith began. “What the hell is wrong with you?”
Smith said that while other team presidents were offering money, Reilly offered rings.
“Do y’all understand the greatness of a Hall of Famer by the name Dwayne Wade?” Smith said.
“He was a great player. He was a great leader.
“Let’s go back to LeBron’s rookie year. Every press conference was D. Wade looking right at him, sitting right next to him. Why was that? Because mentally, despite the greatness of LeBron James as a talent, mentally, he was warped. He was scared to shoot free throws, he was scared to really take the bull by the horns.”
Smith said that was the reason that James isn’t the GOAT.
“That is why, Shannon Sharpe, I haven’t given him the title as GOAT,” Smith added.
“Because I gotta take into account all of those things before you started winning championships.
“What I’m saying is that if he’d been going against Jordan and those brothers with that kind of mentality before he even won a championship, he’d have never won one. They’d have shut it down because they would have snatched his heart.
“But because he got to Miami and learned what it took to be a champion, he’s been unstoppable since. There’s a difference.”
Smith saying that James isn’t the greatest isn’t new.
Earlier this year, he told Podcast P With Paul George that he didn’t have LeBron matching MJ.
“I got (LeBron) as the second-best player in the history of basketball,” Smith said. “I got him ahead of Kareem. I got him behind no one but Jordan.”
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