When it comes to GOATs in sports, both Tom Brady and LeBron James have their respective cases to claim that title. For sports analyst Stephen A. Smith, though, he’s picking the NFL legend over the Los Angeles Lakers superstar.
James is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Born in Akron, Ohio, he showed exceptional talent from a young age, dominating the local leagues and earning the title of “The Chosen One” during his high school years.
After being selected as the first overall pick in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Akron natiove quickly established himself as a superstar, winning Rookie of the Year and leading the Cavaliers to the playoffs. Despite early postseason disappointments, he continued to improve, winning the NBA scoring title and leading the Cavaliers to the NBA Finals in 2007.
In 2010, James made the controversial decision to leave Cleveland and join the Miami Heat, forming a Big Three with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. Although he faced initial criticism, the All-Star forward led the Heat to two NBA championships in 2012 and 2013, winning the Finals MVP award both times.
After returning to Cleveland in 2014, he led the Cavaliers to their first-ever NBA championship in 2016, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest players of all time. With his continued dominance on the court, his off-court philanthropic work, and his unparalleled achievements, LeBron James has made a solid claim to be the GOAT of basketball.
NBA Analyst Stephen A. Smith Chooses Tom Brady Over LeBron James
Over the years, Smith has been known for throwing out wild takes. In an article written by Tzvi Machlin for The Spun, the sports analyst has chosen Brady over James as the better athlete.
“Naturally, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith wasn’t going to let a list like that go by without giving his two cents. Appearing on First Take this week, Smith declared that he would put Brady higher than LeBron on his list.
Smith’s reasoning came down to championships – Brady has seven while LeBron has four. He also noted that while Brady isn’t exactly unbeaten in the big game, going 7-3 in Super Bowls, LeBron is 4-6 with six NBA Finals runs that came up short,” Machlin wrote.
Brady has won a record seven Super Bowl championships while obtaining 3 MVPs, five Super Bowl MVPs, and 15 Pro Bowl selections. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in NFL history, known for his exceptional leadership, accuracy, and ability to perform under pressure.
As it stands, Smith’s argument held some foundation for using the number of rings Brady won. It remains to be seen once James’ career is over to get a good gauge of who’s really the better athlete.
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