LeBron James has no contemporary that can match up to his stature. For that, he has to look at the past this generation to Michael Jordan. His idol growing up, and someone who has become the number one antagonist in the LeBron James story.

They will forever be compared to each other, and Stephen A. Smith has once again made his side clear. “There’s nothing that’s going to change my mind. To me, Michael Jordan is the greatest of all time.

“But him and LeBron James, sitting at the same table. LeBron James is on the Mount Rushmore of basketball, one of the top 4 players in the history of basketball. There is no question about that.”

Stephen A added to his argument for Jordan over LeBron after praising both. “I am thinking about the scoring titles of Michael Jordan, the NBA Championships of Michael Jordan, the killer instinct that was Michael Jordan.

“All of those things come into consideration for me. When I look at LeBron, it’s no disrespect from my side. I think he is the greatest player in the game today, and I think he is the greatest in the history of basketball outside of Michael Jordan.”

LeBron James: Can he surpass MJ?

The LeBron vs Jordan is a debate that will never have a definitive answer. As Stephen A and Kendrick Perkins said, it is a matter of preference.

A lot of people prefer the unparalleled dominance that Jordan had in his prime, while others prefer the incredible longevity that LeBron has shown.

At the end of the day, Stephen A Smith made the right point. That point isn’t about who you pick for number one, but that calling the other guy number two isn’t an insult.

Whether you are team LeBron or team Jordan, being one or two in a sport that has seen umpteen stars is a massive achievement, regardless.