LeBron James' camp is not taking it lightly when someone does not side with the Lakers star to be the greatest player of all time.
Popular ESPN broadcaster Stephen A. Smith revealed a strange interaction with the NBA's all-time leading scorer's agent Rich Paul during a recent appearance in the Podcast P show by Paul George, following his declaration of James to be the second-best player in the history of the game behind Chicago Bulls icon Michael Jordan.
Stephen A said on PG’s Podcast that LeBron and his camp drive him crazy because they can’t accept being #2 All-Time, and how one day he told Rich Paul to “Get the f**k out of my face.”😳😂
— uSTADIUM NBA (@uSTADIUMNBA) August 14, 2023
(🎥 @PodcastPShow) pic.twitter.com/TEkIIJxKxD
Smith amusingly shared that the Klutch Sports Group CEO told him that his opinion was an insult to James, and the broadcaster responded by telling Paul to "get the f**k out of my face."
The 55-year-old media personality noted that he even got James over Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and proceeded to make a rant against Paul, asking how it could be an insult to list a man as the second-best player ever over the course of the game's rich history.
"When you gonna treat me like I'm disrespecting a man by calling him in the history of the game that started in 1947 [the NBA's first season]. You're gonna tell me I'm disrespecting a man having him number two of all-time? You have lost your damn mind. I'm not talking to you," Smith said.
The game of basketball was invented by gym teacher Dr. James Naismith in 1891, but the NBA played its first season in 1946-47.
Aside from being James' agent, Paul is also one of the Lakers star's closest friends along with Maverick Carter, who handles further aspects of the 38-year-old's business ventures.
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Stephen A. Smith further rants against LeBron James
Following the barrage of comments against Paul, Smith turned his attention to James himself.
The broadcaster said that after claiming he was the best player in the world during one of his NBA Finals trips, James shifted the narrative to a different subject after losing.
The 19-time NBA All-Star would then say he was trying to be the best father and role model to everyone watching worldwide afterward.
The topic shift caught the ire of Smith, who said that the four-time champion is trying to cover up for subpar performances while adding that no one is questioning the character of James.
Smith added that James is trying to be slick with his comments about being a role model while urging that the all-time great "stick to ball" and be accountable for his mistakes on the basketball court.
James has a 4-6 record in the NBA Finals, making the championship round eight years in-a-row during the 2010s. He has won four NBA titles - twice with the Miami Heat in 2012 and 2013, and one each with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 and the Los Angeles Lakers during the pandemic-laden 2020 playoffs in the bubble.
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