Stephen A. Smith questions JJ Redick’s motives for ‘glazing’ LeBron James

Stephen A. Smith doesn’t disagree with JJ Redick’s praise of LeBron James, but he’s not sure why the Los Angeles Lakers head coach felt it was necessary to share.

Only three times in NBA history has a 40-year-old player scored 40 or more points in a game. After Thursday night, LeBron now has two of those games, with Michael Jordan being the only other player to accomplish the feat.

Following James’ 40-point performance, Redick took time out of press conference to “glaze” the 40-year-old superstar, as the former shooting guard-turned-Lakers head coach categorized it, forcefully describing his greatness to the media. Friday morning on First Take, Smith was confused as to why Redick felt his speech was even necessary.

“JJ Redick didn’t tell a lie. He said the absolute truth,” Smith admitted. “I just hope that he wasn’t talking as if somebody didn’t notice that or people haven’t said that about LeBron James. When have people not said that about LeBron James?”

Brian Windhorst pointed to earlier in the week, when LeBron was being criticized for ducking out of the All-Star Game shortly before tip-off. Smith, however, argued that calling LeBron out for snubbing this season’s All-Star Game shouldn’t imply people don’t recognize his greatness.

“The guy has done so many, many great things,” Smith said. “Don’t think for one second that JJ Redick was saying something the world doesn’t know or shouldn’t know. This is one of the greatest players in NBA history, top two all-time as far as I’m concerned. And even with all of that…people are going to have to learn this. Your story in its completion is told when it’s over. While you’re in the midst of it all, it comes with scrutiny.”

Smith is right. LeBron’s greatness shouldn’t absolve him of being criticized. And being criticized shouldn’t absolve him of being recognized as arguably the best player in NBA history. But maybe this was less about Redick putting the media on blast and more about him just recognizing James’ greatness, on a night where he did something great.