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Stephen A. Smith Had Strong Words For LeBron James and Rich Paul on Friday

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Ayomide Adeduyite | Last updated May 23, 2025 2:39 PM ET

The longstanding debate over the greatest basketball player of all time continues to stir discussions. ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith has consistently ranked Michael Jordan as the top player, placing Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James as a close second. This stance has led to tensions between Smith and James' camp, notably with Rich Paul, the star's longtime agent and founder of Klutch Sports.

Earlier this season, the relationship between Smith and James became strained following Smith's comments about Bronny James. His remarks led to a confrontation between James and Smith during a Lakers game, where James expressed his displeasure over the comments concerning his son.

On Friday's episode of ESPN's "First Take," Smith addressed the ongoing GOAT debate and the negativity surrounding it. He remarked, "When we debate the GOAT, the negativity of it comes from LeBron and his camp, nobody else."

After referring to James as the second greatest player ever, Smith brought up a conversation he had with Paul:

"What did I say to Rich Paul one day? 'You act like that's an insult.' Rich Paul's response, 'It is an insult.'"

"When we debate the GOAT, the negativity of it comes from LeBron and his camp, nobody else."

—@stephenasmith on David Falk's recent comments regarding the NBA GOAT debate pic.twitter.com/GAwx2eKv6q
— First Take (@FirstTake) May 23, 2025

The debate between James and Jordan as the GOAT is fueled by differing perspectives on their careers. Supporters of Jordan highlight his six NBA championships, five MVP awards, and perfect 6-0 NBA Finals record, emphasizing his dominance during the 1990s. Conversely, advocates for James point to his longevity, all-time scoring record, four MVP awards, and success with multiple teams.

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

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