The conversation around the NBA's declining ratings reached a fever pitch during All-Star Weekend earlier this month. As fans continued to criticize - and tune out of the game - members of the sports media have tried to figure out how to fix things.

The Los Angeles Lakers superstar has won four titles and rung in just about every accolade there is to offer in the league, and he's done so with the pressure of being "the chosen one" and wearing the crown as the face of the NBA since his arrival in 2003.

James' hard-hitting statement reached famed analyst Stephen A. Smith, who spared six minutes of First Take to answer the Lakers captain.