Only ONE Player Beats LeBron All-Time? Stephen A. Smith Reveals the Truth Behind the Ranking Controversy

According to Smith, the ongoing negativity surrounding the comparisons between LeBron James and Michael Jordan doesn’t stem from fans or media personalities—but from within LeBron’s own inner circle.

“The thing we have to understand about this conversation is that when we debate the GOAT, the negativity stems from LeBron and his camp—nobody else,” Smith declared.

The outspoken analyst emphasized that calling LeBron the second-greatest player in NBA history isn’t an insult—it’s a monumental compliment. In a league with over 70 years of history and thousands of players, Smith argues that placing LeBron second only to Michael Jordan should be viewed as an extraordinary honor, not a slight.

“When we say he’s number two all-time,” Smith continued, “we’re appreciating that out of the thousands of players who’ve played in the NBA since the late 1940s, there’s only one we consider definitively better—and that’s Michael Jordan.”

Smith recounted a past conversation with LeBron’s agent, Rich Paul, who reportedly expressed frustration over LeBron being consistently ranked No. 2. Smith was baffled by the response, questioning why such a ranking—second only to the universally revered Michael Jordan—would be treated as an insult rather than a badge of greatness.

This statement has reignited the GOAT debate across sports media and fan communities, with many agreeing that the Jordan vs. LeBron discussion has become overly toxic, fueled more by pride and ego than actual basketball merit.

Smith’s stance is clear: LeBron James is an all-time legend, one of the greatest athletes the sport has ever seen. But in his eyes—and the eyes of many—there remains only one undisputed GOAT: Michael Jordan.

So the question remains—why is being second to the greatest of all time treated like a loss, instead of the incredible accomplishment it is?