LeBron James called the GOAT at something he won't be happy about originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The NBA GOAT debate is never-ending, and the mainstream media has been debating for years whether it is Michael Jordan or LeBron James.Many media members and TV personalities have taken a strong stance on either side, including ESPN analyst Stephen A Smith. For years, Smith has suggested that Jordan is the GOAT and has made it clear that it will never change.On a recent episode of ESPN's First Take, Smith and the panel discussed James' recent comments on being the NBA GOAT in a Times 100 article.Smith ended up calling the 41-year-old 'the GOAT' but in a different way."The GOAT of longevity and category number two, the GOAT of talking about who's the GOAT, he's [James] the GOAT of that conversation," Smith said.LeBron James is "the GOAT of talking about who's the GOAT" - Stephen A. Smith pic.twitter.com/3Gywy5HMk9 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 10, 2026Kendrick Perkins went on to back James in the conversation, but Smith was not having it.LeBron James makes his case in NBA Goat debateThis debate stems from the four-time NBA champion claiming that he is the NBA GOAT over all the all-time greats. Im not taking nobody over me, James said. Theres no question. But I think Mike will say the same thing. Rest his soul, Kobe will say the same thing. Magic will say the same thing. Bird will say the same thing. Shaq could say the same thing. The late great Wilt. Kareem. I dont think none of us are going to take somebody else. If theres a general manager and hes eyeballing all of us on a baseline, with the No. 1 pick, its gonna be hard not to take me, champ.James has certainly made a strong claim to be the NBA GOAT. He is the all-time leading scorer in both the regular season and playoffs, has won four NBA titles, four NBA Finals MVPs, four NBA MVPs, is a 22-time All-Star, 21-time All-NBA and a member of the NBA 75th Anniversary Team.One thing is for sure: with a resume like that, the NBA legend is well on his way to Springfield when all is said and done.More NBA news:Why Victor Wembanyama wasn't suspended for controversial Jalen Brunson shoveSpurs' Victor Wembanyama blasts Knicks fans for bad behavior: 'Unacceptable'Lakers predicted to lose $51 million free agent in deal to San Antonio SpursNew York is about to become the undisputed center of the sports world