Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James just finished his seventh season with the team and 22nd overall in the NBA. The 40-year-old's future is still uncertain as he has a $52.6 million player option for next season. As it stands, it remains unknown whether he will return for another season or not.
Regardless of what is next for James, he has already cemented himself as one of the game's greatest players, with many believing he stands atop the list. He has done nearly everything there is to do in the NBA, and he is still going strong.
Most put James in the same conversation as another one of the game's all-time greats, Michael Jordan. However, not everybody feels this way, including two-time NBA Champion Kenny Smith.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23)
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23)
Matt Blewett-Imagn Images
The debate over which player is greater between James and Jordan will likely never go away. However, according to Smith, while the Lakers star is an all-time great, he is not on the same level as the six-time champion. Instead, Smith says James is closer to "the Larry Bird-Magic Johnson fibre" than he is to Jordan.
"Michael Jordan touched the fibre of basketball that no one will ever touch today. Larry Bird touched the fibre of basketball that no one’s touching today. Maybe LeBron," Smith said in an interview with The New Yorker's Charles Bethea. "LeBron is touching the Larry Bird–Magic Johnson fibre. He’s not touching the Jordan fibre.
Smith's comments come less than a week after NBC revealed that the Bulls legend has joined their team ahead of their return to NBA coverage next season.
Both James and Jordan are some of the greatest players in NBA history, and the debate between which player is better will continue well past the Ohio native's retirement. However, he may still have some time to add to his legacy, and only time will tell how much more he can do before he calls it a career.