Stephen A. Smith: Why LeBron James is Most Valuable Player in Sports

In the wake of French soccer star Kylian Mbappé’s reported billion-dollar offer to join a soccer league in Saudi Arabia, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith gave his take on who the most valuable athlete in America’s four major sports leagues.

His answer: LeBron James.

“LeBron James is a global, iconic brand, as well as the NBA being a global, iconic brand,” Smith said. “And I think when you think about LeBron James, it’s not just his greatness as a basketball player, it’s also the conscientious observer that he is. There’s no indifference when it comes to him. You love him, or you can’t stand him.”

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James joked on social media about taking a massive offer from Saudi Arabia’s PIF after Mbappe’s contract offer was reported. And while it’s hard to envision him in any other league than the NBA, Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix wrote earlier this week about how Saudi Arabia could pose a threat to the league.

Smith cited James’ off-court impact, both as a businessman and activist, as reasons for his global value being the greatest in American sports. James was also propelled, in Smith’s eyes, by the fact that the NBA is such a global league.

“The NBA has gone successfully about the business of globalizing its brand, and he is undisputably the face of that brand,” Smith said.

While we may never find out the exact amount, there’s no question that James truly hitting the global open market would produce some eye-popping offers.