You won’t find a lot of people who would dispute that LeBron James is one of the most influential athletes ever and just in case you do, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has a debate for you.
With Serena Williams looking to tie the record for Grand Slams in the U.S. Open, her run of excellence that has lasted over 20 years, has people thinking about her influence on the sport. Williams changed women’s tennis forever and with that thinking, ESPN asked Stephen A. Smith to rank his top-five most influential athletes, with LeBron making the list.
While there is no way for the GOAT debate between he and Michael Jordan to be settled, it is evident that James has influenced not only the NBA but the sports world at large. The player empowerment era that James pioneered with The Decision, as well as his off-court success in the business world, his passion for education for struggling communities as well as speaking up against injustice have made his impact much greater than just basketball.
