The Courtside Showdown: LeBron vs. Stephen A.
Stephen A. Smith kicked off ESPN’s First Take with a bombshell explanation of what went down between him and LeBron James after the Lakers’ game on Thursday night. The incident, which took place at Crypto.com Arena, has been the talk of social media, with a viral video showing LeBron appearing visibly irritated during a courtside exchange with Smith.
What Sparked the Confrontation?
Smith confirmed that LeBron approached him unexpectedly after the Lakers’ 113-109 victory over the New York Knicks. The NBA superstar wasn’t there to talk basketball—he was there as a father defending his son, Bronny James.
“That was LeBron James coming up to me, unexpectedly I might add, to confront me about making sure I mind what I say about his son,” Smith explained to host Molly Qerim. “I can’t repeat the words because they aren’t suited for FCC airwaves. That’s what he was doing.”
Smith emphasized that this wasn’t a basketball player confronting him—it was a parent. “That wasn’t a basketball player confronting me. That was a parent. That was a father.”
The Viral Moment: What Did LeBron Say?
The video of the confrontation shows LeBron speaking animatedly to Smith before walking away with a scowl on his face. Smith was sitting with Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel and Larry David at the time. The incident happened just hours after reports surfaced that Smith had agreed to a new $100-million contract with ESPN.
Smith revealed that LeBron’s representatives at Klutch Sports had previously reached out to him about his criticism of Bronny James. Last month, Smith had publicly criticized LeBron for pushing Bronny into the NBA spotlight, saying, “Stop this. We all know Bronny James is in the NBA because of his dad.”
Bronny’s NBA Journey: A Point of Contention
Bronny James, a rookie for the Lakers, has had limited playing time this season, appearing in just 18 NBA games and spending time with the franchise’s G League team. Smith has been vocal about his belief that Bronny’s place in the NBA is largely due to his father’s influence.
“I wasn’t talking about Bronny. I was really, really talking about him because of the position that Bronny was in,” Smith said, standing by his original comments. “But I really understood where he was coming from. He was very, very upset. I could tell.”
A Father’s Defense: LeBron’s Perspective
Smith acknowledged that LeBron’s reaction was understandable, given the circumstances. “He could have called me. I’d have come to see him. I’d have had a conversation with him. He could have been just as upset face-to-face, man-to-man, as opposed to being courtside at the game.”
Despite the confrontation, Smith insisted that he wasn’t offended or insulted by LeBron’s actions. “I had no idea everybody saw it until I woke up this morning, but it is what it is. And, in the end, like I said, as a father, I get it. I’m not offended. I’m not insulted. I don’t have any animosity, I have no animus towards LeBron James for this, nothing like that.”
The Bigger Picture: LeBron and Stephen A.’s Rocky Relationship
Smith also touched on his long-standing strained relationship with LeBron, noting that the two haven’t been on good terms for years. However, he downplayed the significance of their feud, saying, “Neither of us lose sleep over it.”
Disclaimer
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