From stepping aside from social media to taking a dig at the media, LeBron James has always managed to offend reporters. So when LeBron James talks, you sit up, notice, and more often than not, there’s a reaction. And this time, it was no different. His no-holds-barred comments on the NBA media or, to be specific, a selective section of it, sparked debate and a nationwide cacophony. Stephen A. Smith believed he was the target of those comments, but which other analyst also objected?

It is veteran FOX personality Rob Parker. During a recent episode of The Odd Couple podcast, taking shots at LeBron, he straight up called the 40-year-old a “phony.” “I gotta say this. Cause I think LeBron, a lot of these guys are just, they’re so phony and fake. And I’m gonna tell you why. First, it a you guys, us writers, reporters, you guys didn’t play in the league, blah, blah. right? It was the pushback that we didn’t play in the league,” Parker said.

He then pointed out that now the critics on the TV screen are former players with NBA resumes. “I’m dead serious, because which one is it? Is it that we didn’t play in the league or is it that Chuck and Kenny and Shaq. They’re all wrong and haters. They’re all haters, and they didn’t do anything in the league. They didn’t win anything. They didn’t win any awards. Their opinion doesn’t matter. I don’t get it.”

But what was James’ fault that brought him under fire? This was all because he highlighted the negativity surrounding today’s NBA, leading to young stars like Anthony Edwards turning away from the responsibility of being the “face of the league.” While Parker is confused about LeBron’s whole narrative about the analysts discrediting the game, those comments were enough to trigger ESPN’s mouthpiece. And since then, SAS’s raging rants haven’t stopped. Speaking out on ESPN, on X, and then again on his show, Stephen A Smith is hellbent on proving LeBron James wrong.

“I’m getting sick and tired of folks talking about everybody who covers the league, on how do we (cover) on the league, because some of us don’t call LeBron James the GOAT,” Stephen A said earlier today. If not anyone, but Stephen A has surely taken those words to his heart. He further added, “Because we bring up load management because people come to games sometimes and cats are sitting out and fans don’t even know until they arrive at the arena that the cats are sitting out. Is it because All-Star weekends arrives and folks don’t learn that LeBron James is playing until the last minute? Is it because he’s never participated in the slam dunk contest, thereby ruining it? Because he’s the first marquee name with slam-dunking ability like that to refuse to participate in an All-Star Slam Dunk Contest ever in his career, the way Jordan did.”

Stephen A. didn’t just bring up LeBron backing out of the 2025 NBA All-Star game at the last hour, but he also took a shot at the 4x champ for skipping the slam dunk contest. And that led to the whole Michael Jordan comparison yet again. Every time there’s a LeBron debate, people inevitably drag MJ’s name into it. But that has to stop, believes Jordan’s once best buddy.

Charles Barkley is tired of Michael Jordan’s forced interjection in LeBron James debate

The whole debate about the “face of the league” has now turned into a debate over LeBron James’ greatness. Gilbert Arenas aptly explained that Michael Jordan didn’t have six rings when everyone was idolizing him. It was the culmination of his career. So, when critics take a dig at LeBron for not having equal rings, the argument falls flat. Charles Barkley holds a similar opinion, which he highlighted during The Steam Room show.

“Guys on television and radio who have no talent. They wanna get clicks from these fools on the internet and call-in radio shows. It’s just stupid. I said that about the Michael/LeBron thing. People who have no talent argue that. The public, they’re stupid [to listen to it],” Barkley said while discussing the legacy of recently retired Diana Taurasi. Calling it “weak journalism” to milk views and clicks, Chuck dismantled the lazy debate. The feeling around the NBA communities on social forums is also the same as people are getting increasingly tired of the MJ vs LeBron debate.

But one can certainly say Stephen A isn’t tired of it. While his daily mission of slandering LeBron James probably won’t end anytime soon, getting the next face of the league isn’t too much of an ask, all things considered. Is it? Share your thoughts!