Stephen A's Take: Doncic and Lebron staring down the competition.

Summary

The Stephen A. Smith Show Episode: Stephen A's Take: Doncic and Lebron Staring Down the Competition Release Date: March 5, 2025

Summary:

In this compelling episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, host Stephen A. Smith delves deep into the current NBA landscape, focusing on the intense competition between Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks and LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers. Smith offers a thorough analysis of team dynamics, player performances, and the overarching strategies that could determine the Western Conference's champion.

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1. The Lakers’ Resurgence and Defensive Prowess

Timestamp: 01:10 – 04:17

Stephen A. Smith begins the discussion by highlighting the Los Angeles Lakers' impressive ascent in the Western Conference. With a stellar six-game winning streak and holding a 6-2 record with Luka Doncic in the lineup, the Lakers have positioned themselves as formidable contenders.

Key Points:

• Lakers' Defensive Excellence: Smith emphasizes that the Lakers have become the #1 defensive team in the NBA in terms of efficiency over the past six and a half weeks. He attributes this success not just to LeBron James but also to the team's overall defensive strategy.

  "The Lakers are the number one defensive team in the NBA, efficiency wise. Number one. That is special."
  — Stephen A. Smith [02:15]

• Impact of Key Players: The synergy between LeBron James and Luka Doncic is underscored as a critical factor in the Lakers' success. Smith notes that their combined prowess on both ends of the court makes the Lakers a tough opponent.

• Evaluating Western Conference Rivals: Smith provides a comprehensive overview of other Western Conference teams, assessing their strengths and weaknesses. He discusses the Oklahoma City Thunder's youthful talent, Memphis' shooting struggles, Houston's inexperience, Denver's bench issues, and the Phoenix Suns' poor performance despite star players like Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.

  "The Lakers got Luka, they got LeBron, and now they got a defense. Damn, they can take the West."
  — Stephen A. Smith [03:50]

2. The Depth of the Western Conference

Timestamp: 03:00 – 04:17

Smith methodically examines the competition within the Western Conference, evaluating teams such as the Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis, Houston, Denver, Clippers, Phoenix Suns, Minnesota Timberwolves, Dallas Mavericks, and Golden State Warriors. He questions whether the youth in teams like OKC will withstand the experience of the Lakers and other seasoned squads.

Key Insights:

• Youth vs. Experience: The debate centers around whether younger teams like OKC, with talents like Shay Gilgis and Chet Holmgren, can compete against the more experienced Lakers.

• Deficiencies of Rival Teams: Smith points out specific shortcomings of teams such as Memphis struggling with shooting and Denver lacking a strong bench, further strengthening the Lakers' position.

3. LeBron James and the NBA’s Face: Media and Legacy

Timestamp: 04:17 – 07:31

The conversation transitions to a thought-provoking discussion about LeBron James' role as the face of the NBA. Smith references a prior statement by LeBron, where he questioned the desire to be the league's figurehead, attributing some of the negativity to media scrutiny.

Key Points:

• LeBron’s Critique of Media: Smith revisits LeBron's comments blaming the media for their critical stance towards players compared to legends like Michael Jordan.

• Michael Wilbon’s Perspective: Renowned sports analyst Michael Wilbon joins the discussion, offering his take on LeBron’s grievances with media portrayal.

  "We live in a world that is largely negative, having nothing to do with sports. That's the world we live in, and you live in it."
  — Michael Wilbon [04:35]

  Wilbon elaborates on how social media both amplifies and complicates LeBron's public image, suggesting that the constant comparisons and attention are inevitable consequences of his status.

• Stephen A.’s Rebuttal: Smith counters Wilbon’s points by emphasizing the media’s role in elevating LeBron's status, noting that increased coverage has directly contributed to his financial success and legendary status.

  "By talking about him, by prioritizing him with our coverage, we've assisted in that."
  — Stephen A. Smith [05:56]

  He further criticizes the double standard in media treatment, pointing out that while LeBron receives unparalleled praise and attention, criticism often follows when other players are compared to him.

  "But by talking about him so much and praising him and recognizing him and popularizing him, it's facilitated him making money."
  — Stephen A. Smith [06:15]

4. The Role of Media in Shaping Athletic Personas

Timestamp: 05:00 – 07:31

Smith and Wilbon engage in a dynamic exchange about the responsibilities and impacts of media coverage on athletes. Wilbon acknowledges the complexities but maintains that LeBron’s influence and the resultant media attention are integral to his brand.

Concluding Insights:

• Media as a Double-Edged Sword: Both hosts agree that while media coverage can amplify an athlete's influence and success, it also subjects them to intense scrutiny and criticism.

• Legacy and Comparisons: The ongoing comparisons to Michael Jordan remain a central theme, with Smith defending LeBron’s place among the all-time greats despite the pressures of living up to such legendary benchmarks.

  "There is no question that he is one of the greatest players ever, and he deserves all the credit for that."
  — Stephen A. Smith [06:50]

• Final Thoughts: Smith wraps up the segment by reaffirming the Lakers' potential to dominate the Western Conference, not solely relying on star power but also on strategic defense and team cohesion.

  "The Lakers got Luka, they got LeBron, and now they got a defense. Damn, they can take the West."
  — Stephen A. Smith [07:25]

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Conclusion: In this episode, Stephen A. Smith provides an in-depth analysis of the Lakers' dominant performance in the Western Conference, highlighting the critical roles of Luka Doncic and LeBron James. The discussion extends to the broader competitive landscape of the NBA's West, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of various teams. Additionally, the episode features a robust debate on LeBron James' status as the face of the NBA, with insights from Michael Wilbon shedding light on the interplay between media coverage and athletic legacy. Overall, Smith presents a balanced and engaging perspective that underscores the Lakers' legitimate claim to the top spot in the Western Conference while addressing the complexities of media influence in modern sports.

Transcript

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[Podcast Host 1]

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[Podcast Host 2]

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[Michael Wilbon]

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[Podcast Host 2]

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[Podcast Host 2]

We gotta get started with the NBA where Don't look now, but the Los Angeles Lakers have climbed all the way up to the top two seed in the Western Conference. The Lakers swept two games against the Clippers Friday and Sunday. The Lakers have now won six straight games and 12 of the last 14. They're 6 and 2 with Luka Doncic in the lineup and LeBron James is putting up numbers reminiscent of his MVP season. The Lakers on a roll and many are starting to wonder if they can win the West. I'm here to tell you they can win the west, but it's not just because of LeBron James. It's not because you're expecting and anticipating that Luka Doncic is going to go berserk is because of the way the Lakers are playing defense? That brings us to J.J. redick. Did you know that over the last six and a half weeks the Lakers are the number one defensive team in the NBA, efficiency wise. Number one. That is special. Nobody anticipated that. So we got to give love where it's due, respect where it's due. And we got to start contemplating whether or not the Lakers can indeed come out of the West. Now when I think about okc, I'm thinking about Shay Gilgis, Alexander. I'm thinking about Jalen Williams. I'm thinking about Chet Holmgren, Isaiah Hartenstein. I'm thinking about the brothers that they got playing in that squad. Youthful exuberant athleticism, three point shooting ability, shot blocking ability, defensive prowess. They've got like nine different categories that they're number one in. All of those things play a role. The question is, will their youth get the better of them, particularly going up against some more experienced teams. Dare I say the Los Angeles Lakers. We look at Memphis, they struggle shooting the ball. We look at Houston, we look they're too young. We look at Denver, they don't have a bench. We look at the Clippers, we see what the Lakers have already done to them. We look at the Phoenix Suns, they're non existent. They've lost like 12 of their last 14 despite Kevin Durant and Devin Booker both averaging over 26 points a game. They can't win a game to save their damn life. The Minnesota Timberwolves are winning games. But do you really, really wonder whether or not Anthony Edwards is going to have the help he needs from a Rudy Gobert, from a Julius Randle and others to really make some noise out in the Western Conference? And of course there is the Dallas Mavericks, who everybody believes could make some noise. But then again, Anthony Davis and Daniel Gafford is out. When are they coming back? And when they do come back, how ready are they going to be? There's a whole bunch of things to point to throughout the Western Conference. And we can't forget the Golden State warriors either. Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler and those boys. Whole bunch of things to point to. But here's the bottom line. The Lakers got luka, they got LeBron, and now they got a defense. Damn, they can take the West. They really, really can. Now, forgive me for transitioning to another NBA topic, but I want to follow up on a conversation from last week where LeBron James wondered why anyone would want to be the face of the NBA. James essentially blamed the media for being critical of the players in the game who are compared to the legends in the sport. I gave my thoughts on the issue last Friday, and then my buddy, the Godfather, the one and only Michael Wilbon from pti, pardon the interruption, weighed in on the subject himself. Take a listen to what my man Wilbon had to say.

[Michael Wilbon]

There's a lot of layers here and there's some stuff I might agree with him. And I watched Channing Frye have this rant and it was insightful. And I disagree with Channing, who I know and like tremendously. And if I was sitting with channing and or LeBron, I would say, hold on for a second. First of all, we live in a world now in which those guys, and particularly LeBron, they know how to use and manipulate social media. But it goes both ways. It cuts both ways. And that's where a great part of the negativity is. All right, so you engage in this. We live in a world that is largely negative, having nothing to do with sports. That's the world we live in, and you live in it. And in LeBron's case, though, when you've been praised justifiably, you've earned the praise and the hundreds of millions of dollars that have started since you were 8 years old. When you put a crown on your head, do you actually believe that the rest of us are just in your kingdom to serve you? Sorry. There's criticism that comes with that. There's comparison that comes with that. I don't know that LeBron feels this way, because I haven't asked him. I'd like to ask him, is he referring to the constant comparisons of Michael Jordan? Because if he doesn't like that, too damn bad. The comparison, the constant attention, that's how you get all that money. It doesn't come from fannies and seats. It comes from attention and eyeballs and viewership and listenership and all of that. Tony and I just wonder, really, do you think that we're supposed to just be there in public relations terms? We're not on your payroll. We're not there just to praise you.

[Podcast Host 2]

Do I need to say anymore? Do I need to say any damn more? He said it right there for you. We're not on LeBron James payroll. But guess what? We damn sure helped elevate his payroll. Because by talking about him so much and praising him and recognizing him and popularizing him, it's facilitated him making money. There is no question that he is one of the greatest players ever, and he deserves all the credit for that. We didn't train for him. We didn't, you know, we didn't provide his nutrition. We weren't the ones in the weight room like, he was taking care of his body, spending more than a million and a half dollars a year on taking care of his health. All of that stuff is absolutely, positively true. But in the end, by talking about him, by prioritizing him with our coverage, we've assisted in that. But we're hating, because God forbid that you had the audacity, the unmitigated gall to say that one player out of the thousands upon thousands of players that have played in the NBA throughout its history could possibly be better than LeBron James. All we do is talk shit about him. That's what he says. I'll tell you what's talking shit about him. Calling his ass too sensitive. That's what's talking shit about him, which I just did, because it's true.

[Greg Rosenthal]

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

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