Stephen A. Smith Pushes Back on LeBron James' GOAT Statement

LeBron James considers himself the greatest basketball player of all time.

In a recent exclusive interview with Time Magazine for their 100 Most Influential People in Sports issue, James was asked about his position in NBA history. The four-time league MVP, four-time NBA champion and 22-time All-Star said he’s the best to ever touch the court - and he believes all the greatest players in history feel that way about themselves.

"I'm not taking nobody over me," James told Time. "There's no question. But I think [Michael Jordan] will say the same thing. Rest his soul, Kobe [Bryant] will say the same thing. Magic [Johnson] will say the same thing. [Larry] Bird will say the same thing. [Shaquille O’Neal] could say the same thing. The late great Wilt [Chamberlain]. Kareem [Abdul-Jabbar].

“I don't think none of us are going to take somebody else. If there's a general manager and he's eyeballing all of us on a baseline, with the No. 1 pick, it's gonna be hard not to take me, champ."

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During Wednesday morning’s episode of “First Take” on ESPN, Stephen A. Smith pushed back against this GOAT statement from James.

“He’s talking about ‘They would say the same thing.’ No they wouldn’t,” Smith said. “Michael Jordan would never tell you he’s the GOAT. I know Michael Jordan. I speak to him often. I’ telling you, he has never ever, ever once called himself the greatest.”

Smith went on to claim that Kobe Bryant, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar would never call themselves the greatest either.

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The GOAT debate will never be settled, but it’s clear where both James and Smith stand on the topic.

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This story was originally published June 10, 2026 at 11:14 AM.