Does Stephen Curry have what it takes to dislodge LeBron James off his lofty perch in the GOAT debate? Stephen A Smith believes that there could be a discussion to be had if events turn out a certain way.
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Stephen A. Smith is known for his bombastic and exaggerated style of delivery. While this can be entertaining for some, it often comes at the expense of thoughtful analysis and nuanced discussion.
His tendency to make bold and provocative statements overshadows more measured analysis. It also contributes to the “hot take” culture in sports media. His latest statement about the possibility of Stephen Curry overtaking LeBron James for Mt Rushmore suggests as much.
Stephen A Smith asserts that Stephen Curry could have a case over LeBron James if he wins 5 rings
It seems that the Warriors’ game 1 defeat has hardly dampened Stephen A Smith’s spirits. The ESPN personality used his segment this morning to create an imaginary scenario where Stephen Curry dislodges LeBron James from his personal Mount Rushmore:
“If Steph Curry beats LeBron in this series, and dare I say, wins his fifth NBA championship, we might have to remove LeBron James off of Mount Rushmore and put Steph Curry on it.”
“My Mount Rushmore is Jordan, LeBron, Kareem and Bill Russell. Now I know that Stephen Curry is not removing Bill Russell. 11-time champion, 11-1 (11-2 in reality) as a player. Not to mention him coaching in the city of Boston during those times…”
Smith also presented his rationale for Steph not being able to dislodge Kareem from that spot. Eventually, he got around to why James could be dislodged by Steph in some people’s eyes, saying:
“It’s not about throwing shade on LeBron James, it’s about elevating Steph…And I’m looking at Steph, you’re 3 and 1 against him in the Finals.”
He went on to genuinely throw shade at James’ 2016 ring by pointing out Draymond’s suspension and Bogut’s injury, conveniently leaving out the part where James was missing 2 All-Stars himself in the past year.
Does Steph have any case over LeBron James?
Stephen Curry has no case over Kobe Bryant, much less LeBron James – to put it bluntly. While he’s undoubtedly the second-best player of his era, Steph’s top-10 case is being weighed mainly on his offensive credentials.
While he’s now a good defender, he was a negative on that end for a significant portion of his career. Most other top-10 players of all time have been good-to-great on that end. Defense is the main area where Steph loses out in these discussions.
He’s had a spellbinding career and has time to add to his legacy. But James is breathing air in a different stratosphere.
