College basketball was once Stephen A. Smith’s arena, playing for the Winston-Salem State Rams. Sadly, an unfortunate knee injury prevented him from turning pro.
Let’s imagine that Smith has turned pro. Who would be his go-to teammate — Stephen Curry or LeBron James?
The question came up on a recent episode of “The Stephen A. Smith Show” on YouTube. One fan was curious who the ESPN analyst would rather play with if he made it to the NBA.
Smith revealed that despite his admiration for Curry and James, he would still choose the Golden State Warriors superstar. His reasoning is insightful and is fundamental to his understanding of the game.
He calls LeBron a “basketball maven” who manipulates the game with his incredible decision-making skills.
However, I have observed that LeBron’s style requires him to hold the ball for long periods of time, ultimately making his teammates rely heavily on him. Smith doesn’t think it’s good for his game.
In contrast, Smith explained that someone like Stephen Curry, who tends to take shots or create opportunities for others, makes him perform better on the court. Therefore, he chose Stephen Curry.
Also read: Why didn’t Stephen Curry play when the Warriors lost to the Thunder?
Is Stephen A. Smith the best player in the NBA?
Stephen A. Smith has no hesitation in naming Michael Jordan the greatest player of all time in the NBA. His list of the top 5 most influential NBA players crowns Michael Jordan as the pinnacle of influence.
Additionally, on another occasion, Smith was reported to have ranked Michael Jordan at the top of his “GOAT” list, consisting of LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Russell and Starring Magic Johnson.
These examples underscore Smith’s unwavering endorsement of Michael Jordan as the greatest player in NBA history.
Also read: When Michael Jordan Goes Hitler-Style in Controversial Hanes Ad