Stephen A. Smith may be friends with Michael Jordan, but that doesn’t mean he pulls punches. If you’ve followed First Take over the years, you’ve probably heard SAS mention late-night texts from MJ or casual conversations about hoops. But when it comes to his takes, the friendship gets parked. Even more surprising? His stance on LeBron James. Despite LeBron and MJ’s well-documented rivalry—and some personal tension with LeBron himself—Stephen A. doesn’t let that cloud his judgment. When it’s time to talk greatness, he calls it exactly how he sees it.

So he revealed to Kurt Alexander, host of the Big Boy’s Neighborhood podcast, why he thought MJ was the greatest hooper ever. And it doesn’t have much to do with rings, or LeBron and MJ’s trophy cabinets. No, Stephen’s basing it off something more primal. “Michael Jordan is the greatest I’ve ever seen…I say that because, as a basketball player, I believe Michael Jordan is to be revered. I see people respecting LeBron and being in awe of him. I saw Michael Jordan feared. Feared,” said Stephen A. Smith. He then brought up how John Salley and the Bad Boy Pistons planned to foul Jordan before he went airborne because: “he’s not human.”

But it’s kind of odd that Stephen A even brought this up. You see, Big Boy had originally asked the First Take host if he’d talked to LeBron James since their feud began. “No,” Stephen A. said bluntly, before revealing what it would take for the two to have a conversation. “If he asked, which he wouldn’t. But if he asked, sure,” said Smith about having a conversation with the King. And after saying this, Stephen A. brought up the GOAT debate.

Now, putting all relationships, friendships, and feuds aside — there’s really no objective answer to this debate. Both MJ and LeBron have a list of accomplishments that, if stacked, would be taller than the Empire State Building. Hence, it really comes down to who YOU think is the GOAT. And SAS has never shied away from dubbing MJ as the greatest basketball player to ever live. So no surprises there.

But what IS surprising is the props the ESPN media personality gave LeBron a few months ago. He even put him ahead of MJ! What’s that about? Here’s the scoop!

Stephen A Smith praised LeBron James for his “pristine excellence”

LeBron James just wrapped up his 22nd NBA season — and only now, after two decades of unparalleled dominance, is Father Time starting to leave a visible mark. For the first time since his rookie year, LeBron averaged under 25 points per game. And while that dip signals the inevitable, it also underscores something even greater: the sheer longevity of his excellence.

For over 20 years, LeBron has not only defied the aging curve — he’s rewritten it. From fans of rival teams to data-driven analysts and even his most vocal critics, there’s a universal truth no one can ignore: LeBron’s brilliance is undeniable. That includes Stephen A. Smith. Despite their well-documented back-and-forth over the years, the ESPN personality has openly admitted, “I respect the hell out of him.” Because love him or hate him, LeBron’s greatness demands your acknowledgment — and your respect.

And a couple of months ago, on First Take before all the ugliness between LeBron and Smith kicked off, he took a moment to appreciate the King‘s dominance. “Longevity, a sustained level of pristine excellence. LeBron James is the GOAT in that category. Jordan at his best is the greatest I’ve ever seen, but Jordan wasn’t that good for that long,” said Smith on First Take.

So there we have it! Stephen A Smith does think LeBron is the GOAT…when it comes to longevity, that is! Nevertheless, it’s good to see Stephen A. Smith being able to put his close friendship with Michael Jordan and feud with LeBron aside when he talks ball. After all, you can say a lot of things about LeBron, but denying his greatness is as close as we’ll come to blasphemy in basketball.

But what do you think of Stephen’s comments? Is MJ truly the greatest ever? Or is it finally time to acknowledge LeBron as the GOAT after 22 years of playing ball at the highest level?