(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

 

LeBron James is undeniably one of the greatest players in NBA history.

Likewise, he’s also one of the most hated athletes ever, and a lot of that could do with his fans, who often go out of their way to try and make a case for him being the GOAT.

One of their biggest arguments is how much media scrutiny he’s been under throughout the course of his career.

Recently, his lifelong friend and agent, Rich Paul, talked about all the pressure and media he’s had to deal with, which is something that Michael Jordan never had to care about.

“I have no problem with what Rich Paul said, in that regard”.@JumpShot8 tells @DarthAmin why he agrees with Paul’s belief that LeBron deals with more media scrutiny than MJ did. pic.twitter.com/YWkWvlFOvz

— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) September 7, 2023

With that in mind, former NBA player Eddie Johnson reached out to SiriusXM NBA Radio to share his thoughts on the matter, and he actually agreed.

Johnson explained that as much criticism as Jordan faced in the early stages of his career and because of his habits off the court, one actually had to make an effort to find out about that, whether it was picking up the paper or turning on the radio or whatnot.

With LeBron, everybody can simply pick up their phones and get a platform to voice whichever take or opinion on his game, his life, or anything.

That’s a valid point, and it’s undeniable that the social media era has made it tougher for athletes to control narratives around them.

But that has little to do with the impact on the court, if at all, and that has always been the central point of this debate.