Stephen A. Smith Drops Bold LeBron James GOAT Take Amid Age 41 Run

Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James (Photo by Imagn Images)

Stephen A. Smith Drops Bold LeBron James GOAT Take Amid Age 41 Run

Originally posted on Total Pro Sports | By Afshan Khan | Last updated Apr 22, 2026 6:58 PM ET

Stephen A. Smith, known for his fiery takes, has shifted his tone toward LeBron James amid the Los Angeles Lakers’ recent success. Once an intense critic, Smith is now singing James’ praises as he leads the Los Angeles Lakers against daunting odds.

With star players Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves sidelined, many doubted the Lakers’ chances against the Houston Rockets. But thanks to standout performances from Luke Kennard and LeBron’s leadership, the Lakers have secured back-to-back victories.

Smith didn’t hold back his praise, asserting, “We have never seen somebody be this great for this long in their career from start to finish. If you want to give him GOAT status, it’s because there’s never been anyone this good for this long.”

.@stephenasmith giving LeBron GOAT status? pic.twitter.com/VAntjMD5Sg
— First Take (@FirstTake) April 22, 2026

Smith even initiated comparisons to legends like Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams, highlighting the rarity of James’ sustained greatness.

Stephen A. Smith Praises LeBron James for Sustained Greatness

Fans are no strangers to LeBron James’ comparison to the Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan in the GOAT debates. However, Smith’s praise for James in the GOAT discussion is unexpected.

Further in his statement, Smith said, “Is there an athlete that has been this good for this long in history?… MJ is still my goat because Michael Jordan at his best I take any day against LeBron at his best. But that doesn’t mean that LeBron isn’t great and he isn’t on the Mt. Rushmore of basketball. When you think about sports overall, it’s a very simple question. At age 41, in his 23rd season, has there ever been anybody this good for this long? The answer to that is no.”

Stephen A. Smith praises LeBron James:

“Is there an athlete that has been this good for this long in history?… MJ is still my goat because Michael Jordan at his best I take any day against LeBron at his best. But that doesn’t mean that LeBron isn’t great and he isn’t on the Mt.… pic.twitter.com/qSqProTjqO
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 20, 2026

Last year, Smith had an intense conflict with James after making critical remarks about James’ son, Bronny. The drama escalated when King confronted Smith on the court. After several heated exchanges, the feud between Smith and James appears to have finally cooled off.

This article first appeared on Total Pro Sports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: