STEPHEN A Smith has refused to change his stance on the greatest basketball player ever on Friday.
The First Take host didn't budge with LeBron James closing in on another NBA record.
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James is just 62 points shy of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time scoring record.
And the 38-year-old is set to break that historic mark in the next few days.
Stephen A was asked about the great basketball debate on "Michael Jordan Day."
February 3, 2023 was named after the Chicago Bulls great because he wore the No 23 jersey in his prime.
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Stephen A Smith refused to change his opinion that Jordan was the greatest ever.
Speaking on First Take, he said: "LeBron James is on the Mount Rushmore of basketball.
"He is one of the greatest players to have ever played the game - no doubt about it.
"He has exceeded expectations and I have nothing but profound respect for the greatness of LeBron James.
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"But I told you before, he never was, he never has been, nor will he ever be greater than Michael Jordan - it will never happen."
Speaking about Jordan, Stephen A added: "Ten-time NBA scoring champion, nine-time All-NBA defensive team, undefeated in six NBA Finals appearances, MVPs in all six NBA Finals.
"LeBron has six losses, LeBron didn't show up in one NBA Finals which was against Dallas.
"This is a time we should be celebrating the Herculean efforts, the greatness, the commitment to excellence, the superb play, the statesmanship, the ambassadorship of all things that are LeBron James.
"This dude is something special, the game will miss him when he is gone. He is nothing short of phenomenal.
"But my mind on this specific topic will never change - LeBron James is No 2 all-time and Michael Jordan is No 1."
LeBron's highest-ever game total in the NBA is 61 points, put down against the Bobcats during his Cavaliers days in 2014.
He'll therefore need a career day if he wants to beat the scoring record this weekend against the Pelicans.
Asked if he believed he could make history in New Orleans, James said with a smile: "Yeah, I do."
"I mean, I don't know if it will happen on Saturday. But, yeah [I could]."
