"You should be ashamed" - Stephen A. Smith outraged by Shannon Sharpe using Michael Jordan's hiatus for LeBron's GOAT case

Stephen A. Smith takes aim at Shannon Sharpe for using Michael Jordan
Stephen A. Smith takes aim at Shannon Sharpe for using Michael Jordan's time spent playing baseball against him (Image credit: Imagn)

During his career, Michael Jordan retired and then returned to the NBA on two separate occasions. The first time was after the death of his father, with the Chicago legend pursuing baseball in his father's memory. The second time Michael Jordan retired was after the series The Last Dance when Phil Jackson, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman all parted ways with the franchise.

When Michael Jordan returned, he did so with the Washington Wizards after taking part ownership of the team and being named President of Basketball Operations. During Tuesday's episode of First Take, Shannon Sharpe and Stephen A. Smith discussed LeBron James' recent slump.

While doing so, Sharpe said that he wished James could've taken five years off during his career like Michael Jordan did, sparking a fierce response from Stephen A. Smith.

"You should be ashamed," Smith said. "That is nonsense. Scandalous. Hold on, hold on, hold on, Jeff. Saturday. Hold on for a second. ... Put the camera on me, damn it. I want a nice shot right here. This is the problem with Shannon Sharp right here.

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"This dude in the weight room, he the man of the steel. He got muscles coming out of here. He work out all the time. He's the epitome of physicality, but he going to ignore how physical the game was when MJ was playing compared to what it is now for LeBron."

"It's everything" - LeBron James opens up on recent struggles after Lakers fall to Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday, sparking Michael Jordan discussion on First Take

On Monday (December 2), the Lakers lost to the Minnesota Timberwolves, bringing their record to 12-9 for the season. In addition, over their last 10, the team has gone just .500, with LeBron James posting some of the worst statistical numbers of his career.

The team have gone 2-5 in their last seven, with LeBron shooting just 10% from downtown over the past six games. Coach JJ Redick and his staff know something needs to change.

Following Monday's loss, James said to media members that the team's offense has hit a lull. In addition, he said that he's been struggling to find his rhythm as of late while speaking with media members in the locker room post-game.

"We're just not good offensively right now. I think we spent so much time on trying to get our defense corrected that our offense just took a toll and took a backseat to that. We're not good offensively right now... Our offense is nasty right now."
"It’s everything. It’s the rhythm. I just feel off rhythm the last few, three or four games.”

Whether this is a slump or whether it's a sign of James' age, only time will tell.

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Edited by Aditya Singh
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