Stephen A. Smith Says It’s Time To Retire Michael Jordan-LeBron James GOAT Debate: ‘That’s How Great LeBron Has Been For As Long As He Has Been That Great’

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith is one of the biggest fans of NBA icon Michael Jordan. He has constantly said that Jordan is the greatest player of all time. 

However, Smith can’t believe what he’s seeing from LeBron James this season. The Los Angeles Lakers star, who is the oldest player (40) in the NBA, is still putting up elite numbers and he became the first player ever to score 50,000 points on Tuesday (3/4) against the New Orleans Pelicans. 

The 50,000 points is combining LeBron’s regular season and postseason totals. 

Smith is not ready to call LeBron the GOAT, but he thinks it’s time to retire the Jordan-LeBron GOAT debate. 

🚨🚨Stephen A. Smith says it’s time to retire the Jordan-LeBron debate 🚨🚨 pic.twitter.com/0RyJtli7Mh

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 5, 2025

The GOAT debate between Jordan and LeBron is among the most discussed topics in basketball discourse. 

Jordan averaged 30.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 2.3 steals and 0.8 blocks with the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards. He won five MVPs, one Defensive Player of the Year Award, six championships, six Finals MVPs, three steals titles and 10 scoring titles. 

Meanwhile, LeBron has career averages of 27.1 points, 7.5 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.5 steals and 0.7 blocks with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Lakers. He’s a four-time MVP, a four-time champion, a four-time Finals MVP, a one-time scoring champion and a one-time assists champion. 

Jordan is first in NBA history in points per game, fourth in steals, fifth in field goals and second in player efficiency rating. He holds the NBA record for most points (63) scored in a postseason game. 

LeBron, who grew up idolizing Jordan, is first in NBA history in points, fourth in assists, sixth in steals, second in field goals, seventh in 3-point field goals, fifth in triple-doubles, seventh in points per game and third in player efficiency rating.

LeBron is the only player in NBA history to rank top five all-time in points and assists, the only player to win three Finals MVPs with three different teams, the only player with 40,000 points, 10,000 rebounds and 10,000 career assists and the only player to score 50,000 points combining the regular season and playoffs.

No matter who you think the GOAT is, it’s evident that Jordan and LeBron are two of the best to ever do it.