Stephen A’s Take: Carmelo tells Pippen to leave Lebron alone.  Stay focused on your beef with Jordan

Summary

Summary of "The Stephen A. Smith Show" Episode Title: Stephen A’s Take: Carmelo tells Pippen to leave Lebron alone. Stay focused on your beef with Jordan
Release Date: January 29, 2025

---

1. Introduction

In this episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, host Stephen A. Smith dives deep into the recent controversial remarks made by Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen regarding LeBron James and Michael Jordan. The discussion escalates as Carmelo Anthony steps in to defend LeBron and Michael Jordan, challenging Pippen's assertions and defending the legacies of these basketball giants.

---

2. Scottie Pippen's Comments on LeBron and Jordan

The episode kicks off with Stephen A. Smith referencing a soundbite from Patrick Bet David's podcast where Scottie Pippen makes contentious statements about LeBron James and Michael Jordan.

Key Quote:

• [01:20] Scottie Pippen: "When you ask who's better, LeBron or Michael, you can't ask me who's the goat between LeBron and Michael? Neither one of them are goats. They both won differently... Magic Johnson to me, is a bigger goat than anybody..."

Pippen dismisses both LeBron and Michael Jordan from the "GOAT" (Greatest of All Time) conversation, elevating Magic Johnson as the true GOAT due to his leadership and versatility.

---

3. Stephen A. Smith's Reaction

Stephen A. Smith reacts strongly to Pippen's comments, labeling them as "straight bullshit" and expressing his disagreement with Pippen's diminishing view of Michael Jordan and LeBron James.

Key Quotes:

• [02:12] Stephen A. Smith: "I'm trying to be nice. I really, really am. But what Scottie Pippen just said was some straight bullshit..."
• [04:07] Stephen A. Smith: "Scottie Pippen's opinion, he's a six-time champion... one of the elite defensive players the game of basketball has ever seen. You can never take that away from him. Okay, but the issue... is that it has waffled, it has wavered."

Smith acknowledges Pippen's achievements but criticizes his recent statements as inconsistent and bitter.

---

4. Carmelo Anthony's Defense of LeBron and Critique of Pippen

Carmelo Anthony joins the conversation, vehemently defending LeBron James and Michael Jordan while dissecting Pippen's criticisms. He argues that Pippen's comments stem from bitterness and a misunderstood understanding of basketball dynamics.

Key Quotes:

• [02:50 - 04:07]
  Carmelo Anthony: "You can't do this every time, though, Scotty... Leave that man alone. ... MJ's a goat this day, and Mike Lebron is a goat better than MJ this day... Magic's a five-time champion... Michael Jordan told them to their face there's a new sheriff in town."

Anthony emphasizes Magic Johnson's greatness and criticizes Pippen for not recognizing the evolving landscape of basketball greatness.

• [06:28 - 07:59]
  Carmelo Anthony: "The fact of the matter is... Magic's a five-time champion... They not even a quintessential prototypical point guard... ...Scottie Pippen... could it be because you're bitter?... hold out... could it be because when Michael Jordan retired and you went..."

Anthony attacks Pippen's credibility, suggesting his negative comments are rooted in unresolved issues from his playing days.

---

5. Heated Debate with Josh (Stephen's Nephew)

Stephen A.'s nephew, Josh, enters the fray, aligning partially with Pippen's stance but ultimately siding against Pippen's criticisms, further fueling the debate.

Key Quotes:

• [08:20] Josh: "I'm on Scottie's side in a way... Would Phil Jackson call the shot for somebody else if Michael Jordan was on the team?"
• [09:32] Josh: "Scottie Pippen only had a couple of... Playoff series without Jordan."
• [10:05] Carmelo Anthony: "Would you have refused? No, I wouldn't do that."

The conversation intensifies as Josh poses hypothetical scenarios about team dynamics without Michael Jordan, leading Stephen A. to challenge Josh's points and Carmelo to reinforce his arguments against Pippen.

---

6. Conclusion

The episode concludes with Stephen A. Smith firmly standing by Carmelo Anthony's defense of LeBron James and Michael Jordan, dismissing Scottie Pippen's recent criticisms as uninformed and emotionally driven. The heated exchange underscores the enduring debates surrounding the legacies of basketball's greatest players.

Key Closing Quotes:

• [10:53] Carmelo Anthony: "The Chicago Bulls are not a lesser version with Jordan than they were with Pippen. That ain't happening..."
• [11:35] Stephen A. Smith: "Cause you sound ignorant. Okay? You sound ignorant."

---

Notable Insights and Takeaways

• Legacy Debates: The episode highlights the ongoing debates about the greatest basketball players of all time, focusing on the perspectives of Scottie Pippen, Carmelo Anthony, and Stephen A. Smith.

• Emotional Underpinnings: Carmelo Anthony suggests that Scottie Pippen's criticisms may be rooted in lingering bitterness from past team dynamics and decisions.

• Leadership vs. Talent: The discussion emphasizes different aspects of greatness, with Magic Johnson praised for his leadership and adaptability, contrasting with Pippen's focus on individual accolades.

• Generational Perspectives: The episode showcases varying generational viewpoints on what defines the GOAT, with younger voices like Carmelo Anthony defending current legends like LeBron James.

---

Conclusion

This episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show presents a spirited and multifaceted discussion on basketball legends, legacy, and the subjective nature of greatness. Through robust debates and passionate exchanges, the show offers listeners a comprehensive look into the evolving narratives that shape the history of the sport.

Transcript

[Greg Rosenthal]

What's up, everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal, and I'm teaming up with the King of spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Julie Swerbinks]

What's up, everyone? Julie Swerbinks here, along with former NHL player Nate Thompson.

[Nate Thompson]

We're doing a new podcast together.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

Here we go.

[Julie Swerbinks]

The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.

[Nate Thompson]

Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?

[Julie Swerbinks]

Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.

[Nate Thompson]

Julia's pretty well connected.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.

[Julie Swerbinks]

Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Want to get to Mr. Scottie Pippen himself? The Chicago Bulls legend who won six championships with Michael Jordan? That Scottie Pippen, well, he's had a lot to say about his former teammate recently, and it hasn't been that flattering. Take a listen.

[Scottie Pippen]

Is not even worth talking about the two of them. When you ask who's better, LeBron or Michael, you can't ask me who's the goat between LeBron and Michael? Neither one of them are goats. They both won differently. You can't put them at the top of the pinnacle. Magic Johnson to me, is a bigger goat than anybody because of how he led, how he brought a whole team, how when the greatest scorer in the game, Kareem, was not there in him as a rookie center steps in and plays a position that no one even knew he could play. That's transcending what you can do as a player.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'm trying to be nice. I really, really am. But what Scottie Pippen just said was some straight bullshit, especially coming out of his mouth. Before I get into it, however, that sound bite that y'all just saw, courtesy of Patrick Bet David's podcast, the PBD podcast, which I've been on as a guest. He had Scottie Pippen on as a guest. Did a great job interviewing him, by the way. That sound bite raised a few eyebrows. And now other NBA players are coming To Michael Jordan's defense most recently was Carmelo Anthony. On his podcast 7:00pm in Brooklyn this past Friday. Check out what Carmelo Anthony had to say now.

[Nate Thompson]

You can't do this every time, though, Scotty. My. Like, you done been in the bunker with mj, you done been in the trenches with this guy. You signed up for the Breakfast Club for six years. Like, you was part of that. Don't take that away from the guard now after all of these years, where you. Whatever feelings you feel about him, like, that is who it is. That's mj. Like, you know what time it is with that as far as LeBron goes. Leave that man alone. Leave that alone. Scotty, like, pay homage to magic, but leave them alone is the ghost of our league, man. Those are the three. So whatever issues you have with Bron, like, leave that shit alone, Scotty, like, nobody's. Brian ain't even thinking about you. Like, nobody even, like, matter of fact, bro, this is a situation where Braun need to see. Scotty's a Nothing square up at this point. Not even square up, but we got. Now you talking about man conversations. Me and you gotta have a real conversation. Like, what the is going on?

[Carmelo Anthony]

You can't keep.

[Nate Thompson]

MJ's a goat this day, and Mike Lebron is a goat better than MJ this day. Oh, six years later. You know what? Both of them, Magic is the goat. Magic been the goat.

[Stephen A. Smith]

See, that's why Melo's my man. Cause Mello's a real one and he's honest. Scottie, it's not that he's dishonest. It's that he's bitter. Now, let me be very, very clear. I go off the reservation, per se, when you say you hating on somebody just because you don't believe they're the goat. Scottie Pippen's opinion, he's a six time champion. He's one of the greatest players in NBA history. He's. He's a top 75 player of all time. One of the elite defensive players the game of basketball has ever seen. You can never take that away from him. Okay, but the issue with Scottie Pippen, in his opinion, is that it has waffled, it has wavered.

[Carmelo Anthony]

And Mello was absolutely right to point that shit out. The fact of the matter is, when you look at Scottie Pippen, years ago, MJ was to go. He's on national TV on NBA today, if I remember correctly, on ESPN, sitting up there talking about LeBron is great, but he won MJ. Then you get pissed off at MJ. But LeBron is the GOAT now. Now it ain't even LeBron. It's Magic. Magic's a five time champion, universally recognized as great as point guard in the history of basketball and was a winner. Got the nine NBA finals that dominated the 80s and he was showtime and he was a facilitator and he was all of that. That's fine. Even Magic and Bird said Michael Jordan told them to their face there's a new sheriff in town. We all know what time it is and what makes it so sacrilegious, which is what Melo pointed out. That's the catch you in the bunker with. See, we not talking about the real. When it comes to Scottie Pippen and all of this stuff, we not talking about the real. You won six championships with them. Remember, he retired after the first three peat. Remember how you couldn't get it done as a member of the Chicago Bulls? Courtesy in part of the Hugh Hollins call against you on the Hubert Davis jump shot at Madison Square Garden. I get that part, but you still ain't get it done. And then the very next year, Michael Jordan comes back. Y'all get bounced out in the second round to the Orlando Magic with Nick Anderson and those boys. But prior to that, you were kicking up your sneaker, showing the Jordan emblem on the bottom, begging them to come back. What you ask him back for then? It was your team, same team, by.

[Stephen A. Smith]

The way, that you got pissed at and deserted because Phil Jackson called the final shot for Toni Kukoc. Remember that? You talking about Jordan this way now.

[Carmelo Anthony]

You throwing LeBron and you saying, don't none of that matter, but Magic. Could it be that you're bringing up Magic because Magic was a facilitator and you thought yourself as a facilitator. Weren't a facilitator. Even though you played point forward, you wasn't driving in the lane and dishing it out like Magic did. You were helped running a triangle and you were an elite defender, but you weren't a quintessential prototypical point guard that Magic Johnson was. So you didn't mirror his game either. Who's it gonna be next, Scottie? And why is it gonna be somebody else? Could it be because you bitter? Could it be because of the last dance and you still salty about that? Could it be because when it was time for you to get paid, even though Michael Jordan had advised you not to take the money because it was a bad contract, you didn't listen to him and then ended up being bitter and Trying to hold out and all of this other stuff. Could it be because when Michael Jordan retired and you went and you took your talents to Portland that you couldn't close the deal and Shaq and Kobe put you up out of the end of game seven, all of that happened.

[Stephen A. Smith]

But you talking, damn, I appreciate Carmelo Anthony calling it out like that.

[Carmelo Anthony]

He didn't get as specific as I did. But the specifics that I threw out there is exactly what Carmelo was talking about. LeBron don't need to step to him.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Like, what's this, what's this, what's this?

[Carmelo Anthony]

All he's saying is that neither one of them is the goat to me, but they. LeBron's the goat of this generation. He just ain't the goat over mj. It is what it is.

[Stephen A. Smith]

My nephew Josh wanted to be in on this segment, too. Cause you had a lot to say about it off the air. So go ahead and tell the audience what you have to say about it now.

[Josh]

Well, I'm on Scottie's side in a way.

[Stephen A. Smith]

What?

[Josh]

You heard me. And the reason why is because I got two questions for you. Cause you keep bringing up what happened when Michael Jordan retired. If Scottie Pippen retired at that same time and Michael Jordan was playing with Steve Kerr, Tony Ku coaching them, would they have won the championship?

[Stephen A. Smith]

Wrong question. The right question is two parts. Number one, would Michael Jordan have quit on his team and refused to enter reenter a game because Phil Jackson caught the final shot for somebody else? Answer that question.

[Josh]

Would Phil Jackson call the shot for somebody else if Michael Jordan was on the team?

[Stephen A. Smith]

Exactly. That's my point. No, he wouldn't have. He would have let Jordan decide it. You know why? Because Jordan was a better offensive player than Scottie Pippen was. So Jordan would have been in a position to make a better decision. That's how John Paxton hit a game when win a shot to win a championship. That's how Steve Kerr hit a game. Win a shot to win a championship. What Scottie would do, naturally, Jordan would.

[Carmelo Anthony]

Draw attention and create an opportunity for somebody else. Because his greatness offensively was so supreme that you expected him to take the last shot so he could defer to somebody else to make sure they had a wide open shot. Nobody was keying on Scottie Pippen like that because Scottie Pippen didn't have that kind of offensive repertoire. So that's number one.

[Josh]

When Jordan was gone and it was Scottie Pippen and Tony Kuko. You're going to choose Tony Kukos. To take the last shot.

[Carmelo Anthony]

The last shot? Yes. You're not saying that Scottie Pippen wasn't a better all around player, but Tony Kukoc was a better shooter.

[Josh]

That's it. Just shooter. I'm a better offensive player, but a.

[Carmelo Anthony]

Last shot is a last shot. And so if they're keying on you, if they're keying on you, Tony Kukoc is a guy that you trust to make the shot. Scottie Pippen can make a play.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Tony Ku.

[Carmelo Anthony]

Coach can make a shot. Don't act like you know basketball.

[Josh]

I'm not calling the play for Tony Kuch. I've been offended too. If I'm Scotty Pippen, you're not doing it.

[Carmelo Anthony]

Would you have refused to re enter the game?

[Josh]

Is it my team or not?

[Carmelo Anthony]

Would you have refused?

[Josh]

No, I wouldn't do that.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Then shut the hell up.

[Josh]

I wouldn't have to. That's not the point. You didn't answer.

[Carmelo Anthony]

That is the point.

[Josh]

You didn't answer the question. That's the question.

[Stephen A. Smith]

What was the question, Josh?

[Josh]

Would they have won if Scottie Pippen.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Retired under the same conditions? Listen to me, listen to me good. If the Bulls were in the same position that Scottie Pippen was in, remember they win that series against the Knicks, they probably end up going to the finals. And then they would have played Houston. Do I believe that the Chicago Bulls could have beat the Houston Rockets? Yes.

[Carmelo Anthony]

Now again, I'm telling you, they're not.

[Stephen A. Smith]

A lesser version of themselves. If Jordan is there instead of Pippen, that's my point to you.

[Carmelo Anthony]

Whether they win or lose, they're not a lesser version. The Chicago Bulls are not a lesser version with Jordan than they were with Pippen. That ain't happening. Nobody would disagree with me on that one. That would not happen.

[Josh]

Michael Jordan on the Bulls in the playoffs record is worse than Scottie Pippen's Bulls on the records without Jordan.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Excuse me.

[Carmelo Anthony]

Scottie Pippen only had a couple of.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Playoff series without Jordan.

[Carmelo Anthony]

How many Jordan and Scottie Pippen played since the 80s with each other? So the six championships. Hold on, hold on, wait. They played like eight, nine years together. Scottie Pippen played one year without Jordan. So you can't compare the numbers. Stop. Let's move on to the subject.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Cause you sound ignorant. Okay? You sound ignorant.

[Carmelo Anthony]

All right, that's number one.

[Stephen A. Smith]

What was the other part that you was gonna say about Scottie Pippen? You don't even remember.

[Carmelo Anthony]

Cause you threw a dance.

[Josh]

You gonna be letting me get my points though. I can't ain't this. This is my segment.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Go ahead, man. Anything else you wanna say about Scottie Pippen? Cause you sound ignorant.

[Josh]

Yeah, I do. I feel like between me and you, you're the Michael Jordan of our situation. It's cool to be Scottie Pippen sometimes. So I got this merch, and it's featuring me and you on it. Check it out. That's me. Cause that was me holding. That's when Michael Jordan, you know, had the flu or whatever. Stephen A. Gets sick sometime, and I ended up carrying him, so I ended up putting that on his shirt. So I got one for your seat. Extra large.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Goodbye, America. I see y'all. I see y'all.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

Geico's motorcycle expertise means I'm covered by people who know bikes like I do. I'm happy as a clam. Disclaimer. No conclusive scientific research has shown clams can experience happiness. I just meant that I feel really good about my coverage. I mean, even if you took the climb out for the best day ever, visiting the zoo, taking a scenic ride, knowing you're insured by specialists, and sharing a strawberry ice cream cone together, the clam would not feel happy. And your strawberry cone would taste sort of clammy.

[Carmelo Anthony]

Ew.

[Daniel Jeremiah]

Geico's motorcycle specialists who know bikes like you do, assume no liability for clammy ice cream cones. Geico expertise for your motorcycle.

[Greg Rosenthal]

What's up, everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal, and I'm teaming up with the king of spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL drop draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you, with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.