Smith started to accuse James of the best player debate of history

Recently, Michael Jordan made a comeback and will explain NBA events to everyone on the NBC platform. According to US media reports, Michael Jordan's return this time has an annual salary of more than 40 million US dollars. However, it is said that the purpose of Michael Jordan's comeback is to end the now chaotic NBA event and the evaluation of the players by the fans and media. Michael Jordan believes that the fan media should give active players such as LeBron James and Stephen Curry more respect, rather than endless slander.

LeBron James and Stephen Curry are among the few players in NBA history who dare to claim to be the best player in history. Recently, ESPN's Stephen Smith began to stand up and accuse LeBron James of asking the other party to become negative and negatively responsible for the honor of "the best player in history".

I have rarely seen Stephen Smith discuss LeBron James recently, mainly to avoid trouble. Because he spread rumors that LeBron James did not attend Kobe's memorial service, and he also disrespects Wade and did not participate in his Hall of Fame activities. What's even more outrageous is that without information verification, he actually publicly announced that the other party had passed away.

This series of disastrous remarks and actions have also made many fans and media feel annoyed by him. For this reason, Stephen Smith also had to avoid suspicion and try to discuss some hot topics, fearing that he would be besieged by fans and media. Now, Michael Jordan has made a comeback, and he has a new topic and criticized LeBron James.

Stephen Smith said "For me, LeBron James is the No. 2 person in history, and we have to understand that when we debate the Goats, its negative impact comes from LeBron and his camp, no one else."

"When we say he is the No. 2 player in history, we appreciate the fact that out of the thousands of players who have played in the NBA since 1950, there is only one player we look at and say with certainty that we think it's better, that's Michael Jordan"

Whether LeBron James is the best player in history is not something the fan media can define. Because every fan and media have their own best player in history. The best players in history in the hearts of fans and media can also be Kobe, Stephen Curry, O'Neal, Tim Duncan, Magic Johnson, Jabbar, Chamberlain or Bill Russell. Isn't that true, there are people who put Kevin Durant in the position of the best players in history!

Stephen Smith believes that the honor and title of the best player in history suddenly became negative, and it was more of a problem with LeBron James and his team. Stephen Smith believes it was their excessive publicity for LeBron James, saying that the opponent was the best player in history. In Stephen Smith's view, LeBron James' historical status is only second in history, second only to Michael Jordan.

Stephen Smith said, "We are not your PR machine, Michael Jordan did not say that himself. Kobe did not say that himself. Karim Abdul Jabbar did not say that himself... Except for that person and his team, no one calls himself the greatest in anything."

Stephen Smith is targeting LeBron James, because everyone knows that Stephen Curry has also said that he is the best player in history, but Stephen Smith kept silent about Stephen Curry, only LeBron James. Kobe did not say that he was the best player in history, but he claimed to be stronger than Michael Jordan. In fact, it’s nothing to say big things. After all, seniors are used to surpass them. You have to see if the players work hard to do something greater than the seniors, such as dominating the game and striving to gain more honors and achievements.

40-year-old LeBron James has played in the NBA for 22 seasons and has one more season in his career. His annual salary in the 2025-26 season is as high as $52 million. In the 2024-25 season, LeBron James played 70 games, averaging 24.4 points, 8.2 assists and 7.8 rebounds. We are also curious whether LeBron James can still play 20+5+5 per game in the 2025-26 season.