A former NBA star who made his debut before Michael Jordan’s second three-peat and retired before LeBron James won his first championship has made waves in the GOAT debate. Despite his relatively brief window in the league, this veteran has thrown his hat into the ring on one of the most hotly contested topics in basketball history. His stance, however, is not just shaped by his time as a teammate but by the influence of another NBA legend: Magic Johnson.

Joe Smith, the first overall pick in the 1995 NBA Draft, recently appeared on Dwight Howard’s podcast, “Above the Rim with DH 12,” where he shared his thoughts on the Jordan vs. LeBron debate. “That’s tough,” Smith admitted before delving into his reasoning. “I ain’t grew up a Jordan fan. I grew up a Magic fan, so for me the closest thing to Magic is Bron.”

Smith, who idolized Magic Johnson throughout his career, often wore the iconic No. 32 jersey in honor of his hero. He believes LeBron’s ability to dominate in scoring and playmaking, much like Magic, makes him a serious contender for the GOAT title. “You got the most points in history, top five in assists, and the numbers don’t lie,” Smith said, referring to LeBron’s unprecedented stats. “So it’s close.”

While Smith ultimately picked LeBron in the GOAT debate, it’s interesting to note that his own idol, Magic Johnson, has publicly sided with Michael Jordan as the greatest of all time. Despite Smith’s strong support for LeBron, Magic’s influence in the basketball world remains undeniable, adding yet another layer of complexity to this seemingly never-ending debate.

The discussion continues to rage on, but Smith’s perspective as a player who saw both Jordan and LeBron’s eras firsthand offers valuable insight. Whether you’re Team LeBron or Team Jordan, it’s clear that the GOAT debate is far from settled