Former NBA star Stephon Marbury recently reignited the debate over LeBron James’ place in basketball history, explaining why he does not consider the Los Angeles Lakers forward the greatest of all time.
Speaking on Whistle, Marbury shared his perspective, citing experiences playing against Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and James.
Marbury dismissed claims that he dislikes James, saying, via HoopsHype, “I love LeBron James as a basketball player.” However, he noted that comparisons to Jordan and Bryant fall short in his eyes. “I played against all three of them. I’ve never seen Jordan or Kobe shoot an air ball at the free throw line. Have you?”
The two-time NBA All-Star also reflected on James’ performances in high-pressure moments, including the recent 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Marbury credited Steph Curry’s clutch shooting as the defining factor in Team USA’s success, specifically in the semi-final against Serbia and the gold medal game against France.
Marbury criticized what he perceived as a lack of assertiveness from James during key moments. “LeBron was standing in front, acting like he wanted the ball, but he didn’t really want to shoot those threes. Stop it,” Marbury said, contrasting it with Curry’s willingness to take and make critical shots.
The discussion extended to James’ broader career, with Marbury alluding to the media’s role in shaping the MVP narrative. “They get mad because I don’t agree that he’s better than Jordan,” Marbury remarked. He added that his criticism of James has often been misconstrued as dislike, but he emphasized his respect for James’ accomplishments.
“I think that as a player, LeBron is the most all-around basketball player to ever touch a basketball. There’s nobody like him. Magic was that for me, but then I saw LeBron and what he’s done. You know, on the winning side, as far as playing, taking everything into account—he’s incredible,” Marbury said. “But as far as basketball players go—come on, man—you shouldn’t even be mentioning him in the same breath as Michael Jordan.”
Curry’s Olympic heroics were a focal point of Marbury’s argument. Curry hit clutch three-pointers in back-to-back games, solidifying Team USA’s gold medal victory and leaving a lasting impression on the global basketball stage. Marbury praised Curry for his ability to rise to the occasion, contrasting it with James’ approach in similar situations.
