Stephen A. Smith GOES NUCLEAR on Jake Paul's Boxing Career, DISSES LeBron James, Fury Vs Joshua

TL;DR

Stephen A. Smith joins Logan Paul's Impulsive podcast to debate LeBron vs. Jordan, critique Jake Paul's boxing career, and preview AJ vs. Fury.

Key Points

• 1.Stephen A. Smith defends Michael Jordan as the undisputed GOAT. Jordan won 6 titles, 6 Finals MVPs, never let a championship series go to Game 7, and had rules created specifically to stop him — something LeBron never faced.
• 2.Smith places LeBron in his all-time top three but firmly below Jordan. He argues LeBron's Eastern Conference competition was soft compared to Jordan's era, pointing out Jordan personally ended title hopes for the Cavaliers, Knicks, Pacers, Jazz, and Suns.
• 3.Smith recounts LeBron confronting him and calls it deeply unfair. He says he deliberately avoided watching Bronny in high school to protect the kid, and LeBron misread his on-air criticism of Bronny playing NBA games too early as a personal attack.
• 4.Smith praises Jake Paul but says fighting Anthony Joshua at 250 lbs was the wrong move. He credits Jake for not needing promoters, being willing to take an L, and having the puncher's-chance mentality — but says fighting someone 50 lbs heavier was unnecessary.
• 5.Smith analyzes the AJ vs. Fury fight, calling Joshua the most exciting and most vulnerable heavyweight. Joshua can knock anyone out but also has a suspect jaw, which is exactly why Jake took the fight, expecting $91 million win or lose.
• 6.Smith breaks down the Deontay Wilder–Tyson Fury trilogy to explain why size matters in boxing. Fury used his 38–40 lb weight advantage to lean on Wilder, drain his legs, and neutralize his nuclear right hand — the same risk Jake faced with Joshua.
• 7.On Tommy Fury vs. Eddie Hall, Smith warns that Tommy's minimal power is a liability. He says Tommy can box and keep distance but lacks the punch to stop a stalking, powerful opponent like the 350+ lb former World's Strongest Man.
• 8.Smith is cursed by Danhausen live on air and fears for the New York Knicks, not himself. He laments the Knicks losing in Round 1 after conference finals appearances in prior years, calling it a huge step back that demands change.
• 9.Smith teases entering the WWE and says Paul Heyman's number-one status would be in jeopardy. He calls Logan Paul a deserving full-timer, names Shai Gilgeous-Alexander the best NBA player right now, and gives Victor Wembanyama a 30% chance to win the 2026 NBA title with the Spurs.