NBA analyst Shannon Sharpe claimed that Lakers star LeBron James faces more scrutiny than Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan did during his career.
Jordan is hailed as the NBA’s greatest of all time, winning six championships compared to James’s four rings.
But Sharpe, a new addition to ESPN’s First Take, claimed that social media and increased paparazzi presence has made life more difficult for James on and off the court.
‘We’re not having to get into who’s the better player, we’ll debate that another day,’ Sharpe began alongside Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s First Take.
‘But we’re just talking about the scrutiny that LeBron has to go through. Because there was no social media and Rich Paul [James’s agent] was absolutely right, there was no 24-hour, seven days a week, 365 in which we had an idea. And what the internet has done, is turn the common person into a head coach, into a general manager, into a scout, into a professional athlete, all these things, so now, they get to have an opinion.
LeBron James (L) faces more scrutiny than Michael Jordan (R), claimed Shannon Sharpe
Sharpe made the claim on ESPN’s First Take Tuesday after recently joining the program
‘Michael would score 50 points and they never said, “well Larry [Bird] would’ve scored 65.” But if LeBron gets you a triple-double, they say, “Kobe, Jordan would’ve had 76 points.” That’s what he’s up against.’
Sharpe, who split from Skip Bayless and Fox’s Undisputed show earlier this year, added that the media boom over the past two decades has forced James to deal with constant off-court scrutiny too.
‘And the scrutiny of having to go out on a nightly basis, Jordan never had to worry about that,’ he added.
‘Never ever had to worry about the cameras, the paparazzi. Do you know how many relationships, how many businesses have been ruined with this, the camera phone?’
38-year-old James surpassed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s NBA scoring record (38,387 points) last season.
At the end of last season, James had said he wasn’t sure if he would be back to play in now what will be his 21st season in the league.
‘We’ll see, we’ll see what happens going forward,’ James said in May. ‘I don’t know. I don’t know. I’ve got a lot to think about, to be honest. I’ve got a lot to think about, to be honest.’
The Lakers superstar was photographed with his wife Savannah, and children Bronny, Bryce and Zhuri at the ESPYs in Los Angeles in July
But he ended any speculation linked to retirement by publicly confirming that he will return to the court next season while accepting an ESPY Award at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles in July.
His agent Rich Paul also said that he could see his client – a four-time league MVP – play into his mid-40s.
‘Five or six more years? Listen, he’s one guy that I’m not gonna say no about,’ Paul said during an appearance on SiriusXM NBA Radio with Frank Isola and Sarah Kustok. ‘I think it’s important to understand what really motivates him. I know it.
‘Obviously, I have been around… As long as his mind is there, as long as he’s still excited about playing the game, in addition to his health, absolutely!’