J.R. Smith laughs off LeBron's MVP snub, compares him to MJ
J.R. Smith believes it's a travesty LeBron James isn't getting more credit for his stellar campaign.
The Cleveland Cavaliers icon - who's already won the MVP award four times - finished fourth in MVP voting this season. That's ridiculous in Smith's eyes, who compared his teammate to the person widely considered the greatest hooper of all time.
"It's almost like when (Michael) Jordan was playing, he could've won it every year," the veteran swingman told reporters following Friday's 130-86 victory over the Boston Celtics.
"But they just wanted to give it to somebody else, but it's fine. Just another chip on his shoulder, which helps us."
Related - LeBron: I haven't been 4th in MVP voting in a long time
He likened James missing the MVP finalist cut to him falling one vote short of a unanimous First Team All-NBA selection.
"Somebody's trippin,'" Smith said as he shook his head and laughed, referring to the anonymous media member who deemed James worthy of the 2017 All-NBA Second Team.
"I guess everybody is entitled to their own opinion, but I don't see how you could not put him in at least the top three. If he's not going to win it, you don't even put him in the top three? It's crazy, but it's all good. I like it like that."
Related - LeBron unfazed by MVP snub: 'This league knows what I bring to the table'
Smith added James is playing on a different level than everyone else, including MVP finalists James Harden, Russell Westbrook, or Kawhi Leonard, because the 13-time All-Star is "driven by a totally different monster."
James admitted himself last summer he's chasing Jordan's ghost, and Smith thinks that's the only legacy that'll compare to his superstar teammate's when it's all said and done.
"He's chasing the ghost," the 31-year-old said. "Right now that's the only thing that can literally compare to him, so I think he's just in a totally different space.
"When he's playing like he's playing - not hesitating on his jumper, transition threes, pull-up threes, pull-up jumpers not even with his feet set - he's just got an extreme, extreme confidence. It's almost like a supreme being-type of mode. That's what we need him to be to win this thing."
James has been leading his hometown Cavs on a historic run, while seemingly breaking records every game. In its title defense, Cleveland is 10-0 in the postseason, and 13-0 dating back to the 2016 NBA Finals where it came back from 3-1 down to topple the Golden State Warriors.