Stephen A. Smith weighs in ring factor to argue LeBron James vs Tom Brady as best athlete of 2000s

Stephen A. Smith responded to a question concerning ESPN's list of the top 100 athletes of the 21st century on First Take Monday. The rankings have LeBron James at No. 4, and Tom Brady at No. 5.

Smith was asked if LeBron should be above Brady as the top athlete of the 2000s. He responded by saying that Brady should be higher.

"Brady's a seven time champion. Period. Lebron is 4," Stephen A. Smith said on First Take. "Brady is 7-3 in 10 trips to the Super Bowl. Lebron is 4-6. Lebron deserves to be up there, I think they both deserve to be higher, but I'd put Brady higher than Lebron."

The two "GOATs" were side by side near the top of the rankings for good reason, no matter what order you have them in.

LeBron James is the top points scorer in NBA history, a record 20-time NBA All-Star, four-time MVP, and four-time champion that went to the finals in eight consecutive seasons while playing for the Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers.

James is also a three-time Olympic gold medalist about to chase his fourth and a father of a No. 55 overall draft pick who he may share the court in the upcoming NBA season.

And then there's Tom Brady, who needs two hands for the seven rings that he earned while dominating the NFL for 20 years as a member of the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He's won more games than any other player (251), has thrown for the most yards and touchdown passes of any quarterback, and did it all after being picked in the last round of the draft and sneaking into the bottom of the depth chart.

Both players share one-of-a-kind durability that has allowed them to dominate over multiple decades at the top level. Tom Brady retired as the league's oldest player, and LeBron James is on pace to do the same while still playing at an All-Star level.

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LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Steph Curry crack top 15 athletes of the 21st century list

ESPN's list had three basketball players make the top 15, with LeBron James at No. 4, Bryant at No. 10 and Curry at No. 14.

Bryant was praised for his scoring prowess and five championships — the LA Lakers guard almost had two back-to-back-to-back title runs, and once scored 81 points in a game, the only player to top 80 since the Wilt Chamberlain's famous 100-point game.

Curry's four championships would put him high on the list regardless, but it's his impact on the game and sheer dominance from behind the 3-point line that has made him one of the most influential athletes of the last 25 years.