LeBron James achieved a double double for the Los Angeles Lakers in time beyond regulation victory on Thursday against the New York Knicks, but a tense discussion with Stephen A. Smith Courtside after the sport proved to be a viral moment of the evening. The ESPN commentator addressed the confrontation on Friday and said James turned to Smith to debate his earlier comments about James' son Bronny.
“It was LeBron James, who came up to me, unexpectedly I could add to confront myself if I could make sure that it is what I say about his son,” said Smith on Friday, “when I discussed a clip of the moment. “I cannot repeat the words because they are not suitable for FCC air waves. He did that. “
“It was not a basketball player. It was a parent, that was a father, ”Smith continued. “And I can't sit here and be angry or feel offended by LeBron James in any way. According to all reports, he is obviously a wonderful family man and a wonderful father who cares very much about his son. And based on some of the comments he had heard – or should I say, I think he thought he heard it – he clearly took an exception to some of the things he heard me. And he confronted me with it. “
Stephen A. Smith said at Espn's first Friday morning that he understood why LeBron James confronted him after the victory of the Lakers on Thursday evening. pic.twitter.com/kgnmqtvost
– The athletes (@theatletic) March 7, 2025
While Smith looked as if it would haven’t any problem with James to defend his son, he was the exception of James, who turned to him publicly, and said James didn’t call him or arrange a gathering to debate the matter, despite the fact that James “knows how to get in touch with him”. Smith, who was sitting on the farm throughout the game with the CEO of Endavour and the comedian Larry David, comedian Larry David, added that “apparently (James) (Smith) had reduced his son.”
Smith said that if he had a one -to -one conversation with James, he would have told him that he would “never negatively negatively negative” about Bronny, who was moved into the Lakers last yr within the second round. “I talked about you, which means that you, LeBron James,” added Smith.
“I only have the best wishes for Bronny James,” said Smith. “I only wish him the best. I hope he is flourishing to an NBA star. … but in the same breath, when we talked about him, he seeped away so much that the Bronny James stories had become viral. And so we had to talk about it (on “first take”), and when I said the things I said I didn't talk about Bronny James because my attitude is that he is a rookie that he will take some time to bring himself together. He will be fine, especially when JJ Redick and the staff train him. I talked about the position he had used by his father. “
Smith said in a January episode of “First Take” that he “asked Lebron James as a father:” Stop this “and” We all know that Bronny James is within the NBA due to his father. “
During the show on Friday, Smith said former quotes from James about his son's talent, including James In recent years say that Bronny could play for the Lakers “At the moment” and this Bronny was Better than current NBA players.
“My point was months ago that due to who they’re – certainly one of the 2 best players within the history of basketball, in my view – (da) an immense pressure that’s connected to his son,” said Smith Freitag. “And when he spoke, and what did you might have, all the things that goes incorrect, as his son is worried, there shall be a microscopic eye that shall be much more reinforced for Bronny James due to his father and what his father had said.”
Smith said: “It was all about his son” about the recent conversation with James and “I understand it as a father. I'm not offended. I'm not offended. I even have no hostility or Animus to LeBron James. Nothing.”
“I don't think he’s interested, but I don't. If I were in his position, I can't definitely say that I wouldn't have done the identical thing. I don't accuse him of a bit. I understand it. I understand it. And there is a component of me that hurts and does it, ”he continued.
Smith – who recently agreed to a brand new contract with ESPN value at the least 100 million US dollars for five years, in a deal that’s presupposed to free him to speak more about politics, made his comments with the statement that he was “not upset”, but he wish that the confrontation was in a non-public environment.
“I don't accuse LeBron James of being upset. I do not accuse him of being angry. I do not accuse him of confronting myself because it was not a superstar basketball player. … that was a dad, ”he said.
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