During his recent appearance on ‘First Take’, Austin Rivers expressed surprise at LeBron James’ exclusion of Michael Jordan from the list of the ‘most influential’ players. The former NBA player was taken aback by the 4-time NBA champion’s choices. He went on to explain his stance and defend his belief. In a podcast episode of ‘Mind the Game’, James and his co-host JJ Redick named Stephen Curry and Allen Iverson as highly influential players, sparking mixed reactions. Rivers acknowledged their impact but stressed Jordan’s unparalleled legacy in the NBA. Stephen A. Smith later joined the discussion, praising Rivers’ viewpoint and placing Curry at the forefront of modern influence in the NBA game.