Stephen A. Smith Passionately Argues He Could Score a Bucket on LeBron James

Patrick Andres | May 16, 2024

December 9, 2023; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; ESPN broadcaster Stephen A. Smith. / Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Let's start this article off with a little tale of the tape.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James, in his 21-year, world-historical NBA career: 27.1 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.4 assists per game to go with four MVP awards and 20 All-Star appearances.

Stephen A. Smith, in his abbreviated college career at Division II Winston-Salem State: 1.5 points per game.

Without disrespecting the Rams—who gave the basketball world Hall of Fame guard Earl Monroe—there's no contest here. So of course Smith suggested Thursday that he could score on James in a hypothetical first-to-100 one-on-one game where James spotted him 99 points.

.@stephenasmith says he could score one on LeBron 1v1 😤 pic.twitter.com/FSRYgE1bdN

— First Take (@FirstTake) May 16, 2024

"You're trying to say if I'm trying to get to 100 and they're gonna give me 99, I can't make one damn shot?" Smith asked.

His fellow panelists cracked up, peppering him with questions about how, precisely, he intended to score on James.

"I can make one shot!" he insisted. "One! One!"

Former NBA guard Tim Legler was particularly adamant that Smith would have trouble even attempting a shot if James and Smith played a traditional, playground one-on-one game.

"Honestly, man, I love you," Legler said. "I don't know how you're going to get a clean shot off."