Stephen A. Smith defended LeBron James on Friday morning after Skip Bayless ranked the player ninth on his all-time NBA list [1].
The debate highlights the long-standing tension between the two commentators regarding James' legacy and his standing among the greatest basketball players in history.
The segment aired during a reunion on ESPN’s "First Take," marking the first time Bayless has appeared on the program since June 2016 [2]. This return followed a 10-year hiatus for Bayless on the show [3].
During the broadcast, Bayless presented his personal top-10 list of NBA players. He said that there are eight players ahead of LeBron James all-time [1], placing James at the ninth position [1].
Smith reacted with disbelief to the ranking. He said that placing James so low was unacceptable given the player's career achievements.
"It's almost so blasphemous, I don't know if you should be banned from television," Smith said [4].
The reunion focused on the dynamic between the former co-hosts, who previously spent years debating sports figures before their professional split. While the atmosphere was celebratory of their history, the argument over James' rank served as the central conflict of the episode.
“"It's almost so blasphemous, I don't know if you should be banned from television,"”
The clash reinforces the 'debate show' format that defined early sports media, where polarizing rankings are used to drive viewership. By placing James at ninth, Bayless maintains his public persona as a chief critic of the star, while Smith's reaction underscores the general consensus among many analysts that James belongs in the top tier of NBA history.
