Guess LeBron won’t be voting for Stephen A. in 2028…
Stephen A. Smith has made a lot of headlines lately as a potential contender for the Democrat presidential nomination in 2028, something the sports commentator has basically laughed off at this point. But the guy’s a voice of reason and somebody who’s pretty well-liked, so it’s no surprise that people want him to run for president.
But he can probably go ahead and count on not getting an endorsement from LeBron James.
Video from last night’s game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks shows LeBron and Stephen A. Smith having a heated courtside confrontation, with LeBron appearing to confront the ESPN personality and telling Smith to keep his son Bronny James’ name out of his mouth.
Wonder what LeBron was saying to Stephen A smith here pic.twitter.com/EN50Cth0Mr
— FlightMike (Mikerophone) (@TheFlightMike) March 7, 2025
Bronny is, of course, his father’s teammate on the Lakers, and has drawn a lot of criticism for his slow start in the NBA and questions around whether he earned his spot on the team or whether he’s only there because of his superstar dad. And during an episode of First Take on ESPN back in January, Smith directly addressed LeBron and his behavior surrounding his son:
“I am pleading with LeBron James as a father: Stop this. Stop this. We all know that Bronny James is in the NBA because of his dad.”
He also said that Bronny belonged in the G-league to develop his skills, while saying that he was rooting for Bronny to become an NBA-caliber player.
"I am pleading with LeBron James, as a father. Stop this."
@stephenasmith reacts to Bronny James' play in the Lakers 118-104 loss to the 76ers. pic.twitter.com/bk5D0DS42N
— First Take (@FirstTake) January 29, 2025
I mean, is he wrong?
Apparently that segment got the attention of LeBron’s people, and Stephen A. called out the “LeBron sensitivity” on his podcast later that day – while running Bronny lowlights in a split screen.
Lebron confronting Stephen A Smith over this has to be the softest thing ever pic.twitter.com/oAn1Qq6Yhm https://t.co/roj4yYkh5w
— sea✰ (@destroynectar) March 7, 2025
Now, Stephen A. isn’t saying anything that a lot (if not most) NBA fans haven’t already said. But apparently LeBron doesn’t appreciate the criticism of him and his son and angrily confronted Smith about it the first time they saw each other in person – and in public.
This morning, Stephen A. addressed the confrontation on ESPN, and confirmed that LeBron’s anger stemmed from his comments on Bronny:
“That was LeBron James coming up to me, unexpectedly I might add, to confront me about making sure that I mind what I say about his son. Can’t repeat the words, because they ain’t suited for FCC airwaves…
It was a one-on-one…I wouldn’t say a conversation, but it was a one-on-one confrontation.”
Stephen A. says that LeBron was confronting him not as a basketball player, but as a father, and that he understands the reaction, but also questions why LeBron didn’t reach out to him privately:
“That wasn’t a basketball player confronting me. That was a parent. That was a father. And I can’t sit here and be angry or feel slighted by LeBron James in any way in that regard. By all accounts he’s obviously a wonderful family man and a wonderful father who cares very, very deeply about his son.
And based on some of the comments that he had heard, or shall I say I think he thought he heard, he clearly took exception with some of the things that he heard me say, and he confronted me about it.
For the record his agent and friend Rich Paul has my number. Maverick Carter, who works under him, has my number. LeBron James knows how to get in contact with me if he wanted to. He never called, because had he called and wanted to talk to me, I would have accepted that call. Had he wanted to see me, I would have flown out and I would have seen him and I would have had a conversation man to man.
But that is not what he elected to do. Instead he elected to confront me while I was sitting courtside. Ari Emanuel, the head of William Morris Endeavor, one of the agencies that represents me, along with Larry David, was sitting courtside. I was with them for the game. And he walked right up to me and he said what he had to say. And apparently he feels like I was slighting his son.”
Stephen A. Smith begins First Take confirming that LeBron James confronted him at last night's Lakers game over comments about Bronny James.
"That wasn't a basketball player confronting me, that was a parent, that was a father." pic.twitter.com/QTWmScRIGF
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 7, 2025
But he also didn’t back down from his previous comments about Bronny, saying that it’s his job to cover the NBA and call it like he sees it:
“You don’t want enemies but you ain’t paid to make friends.”
Ain’t that the truth.
Finally, Stephen A. Smith concluded his monologue about the LeBron James confrontation by defending his credentials as a journalist and saying he stands by his previous comments about Bronny James.
“I don’t want enemies… but I also get paid to call it like I see it. What I… pic.twitter.com/KBPodCY4mP
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 7, 2025
Of course it’s hard to blame LeBron for being a protective father, but at the same time Bronny is a grown ass adult who gets paid millions of dollars to play basketball. Questions about his performance are fair, and when you name your son LeBron James Jr. and get him drafted to the same team, he damn well better perform like a second round draft pick.
Nothing wrong with calling it out when he doesn’t.
The post LeBron James Angrily Confronts Stephen A. Smith Over Criticism Of His Son Bronny first appeared on Whiskey Riff.