Stephen A. Smith has long argued that Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player ever over LeBron James. However, if LeBron were to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a championship this season, Smith admitted on First Take that his case for Jordan might not hold as much weight.
“I have said countless times that Michael Jordan is the greatest player ever. I don’t care what anybody says; he is the absolute greatest. But I have to confess, if LeBron James beats Denver and marches forward to win another chip ultimately, I don’t know how strong my argument will be on behalf of Jordan moving forward,” Stephen A. Smith said.
This isn’t entirely surprising, given his tendency to be influenced by current events. Now, let’s talk about the numbers. LeBron boasts four championships, four Finals MVPs, four regular-season MVPs, a scoring title, and an assists title. He’s also the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, a record that may last long.
Adding another championship and perhaps another Finals MVP to LeBron’s accolades would be quite impressive. However, some argue that it still wouldn’t be enough to surpass Jordan. Why? Jordan won six championships, six Finals MVPs, five regular-season MVPs, and a staggering 10 scoring titles. He never lost in the Finals – a point often used against LeBron, who has lost six NBA Finals series.
At 39 years old, LeBron may need to achieve even more to sway all of his critics. Winning another championship would undoubtedly support his case, but whether it’s enough to crown him as the greatest remains a debated topic. En route to a possible Championship campaign, LeBron will now be looking to edge past the Nuggets in their next playoff game.
Los Angeles Lakers vs Denver Nuggets Match Preview
The Lakers might face a tough challenge in the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Denver Nuggets. The Nuggets have been strong against the Lakers in their previous meetings this season, winning all three games.
The Denver-based franchise have just had a great regular season campaign, finishing with a 57-25 record. They have impressive stats, averaging 114.9 points, 44.4 rebounds, 29.5 assists, 7.1 steals, and 5.6 blocks per game. Their shooting percentage is also high at 49.6%, and their star center Nikola Jokic has been phenomenal against the purple and gold for the majority of his career.
Overall, the Nuggets seem well-prepared and in good form for the playoffs, making them a formidable opponent for the Lakers.
