Who is the greatest basketball player of all time? According to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, you should disregard Michael Jordan’s time with the Washington Wizards at the end of his career when making that assessment.
While speaking on Logan Paul’s “Impaulsive” podcast, Smith explained the reasoning.
“There’s no way you could watch Jordan & LeBron and think Jordan is not the GOAT…. We ain’t counting his two years with the Wizards…We’re talking about his 13 years in Chicago,” Smith said.
You can watch the full interview below:
Michael Jordan and the Basketball GOAT Debate
GettyMichael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls celebrates 14 June after winning game six of the NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, UT. The Bulls won the game 87-86 to win their sixth NBA Championship.
This is far from the first time someone has lobbied for or against Jordan in the GOAT debate. In fact, it’s hard to go a day without hearing a new (or recycled) take on the subject online or on a sports talk show.
The debate is usually between Jordan and LeBron James and can usually be boiled down to cherrypicking whichever stat is most important to that analysts.
Others, like Smith, have made the argument about why Jordan’s Wizards years shouldn’t be included in the conversation. The logic is to focus on Jordan’s peak years with the Chicago Bulls, and disregard the end of his career when he had already cemented his legacy.
Jordan in the 1990s was the focal point of one of the most exciting eras in sports history. He and the Bulls won six NBA championships, three-peating twice, and Jordan earned Finals MVP all six times. The Bulls never reached a Game 7 in the finals. His other notable accolades include five regular-season MVP awards, 10 scoring titles, and nine All-Defensive First Team selections, among other achievements.
In addition to the hardware, he also was the face of the league for more than a decade and revolutionized the popularity of the sport.
GettyHOUSTON, TEXAS – APRIL 24: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers gestures during the pregame ritual prior to the first quarter of the game against the Houston Rockets at Toyota Center on April 24, 2026 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images)
James, who is 41, is in a similar to where Jordan was during his time with the Wizards. However, James, who has four titles during his career, and his Los Angeles Lakers remain in contention for another championship.
During his career, the longest in league history, James has built a resume that stands up against Jordans. His accolades include four-time NBA champion, four-time Finals MVP, 10 NBA finals appearances, titles with three different franchises, four-time regular-season MVP, 20+ time All-Star, and more.
This season, James passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer and Robert Parish for the most regular season games.
Beyond statistics, both players are icons of the game and ambassadors for the sport.
Stephen A. Smith Says Michael Jordan GOAT Debate Should Ignore Wizards Years