Last Thursday’s game between the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers showed lots of endgame drama that kept fans on the edge of their seat. Recently, a viral video surfaced showing LeBron James confronting ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith during the match.
This incident is now the biggest story in American sports because it’s not usual to see a player shout at a reporter in front of fans. LeBron James looked very frustrated and was clearly shouting at him, while Smith appeared shocked from the backside.
Damn LeBron stepped to Stephen A Smith👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/ZJIDcPU4dL
— LegendOfWinning (@LegendOfWinning) March 7, 2025
During the game, a fan recorded a video of the ESPN analyst sitting in the front row, and James was seen talking angrily to Smith. On Twitter, lip readers claimed LeBron said, “I don’t care, bro; keep my son out of this s**t, bro.” This shows that LeBron and Smith may not have a good relationship.
However, Stephen A. Smith clarified after the brief altercation that LeBron, not his son, was the target of his criticism.
Stephen A Smith says his criticism was for LeBron James, not Bronny
In the aftermath of a heated courtside confrontation with NBA superstar LeBron James, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith has clarified that his criticism was directed at LeBron, not his son, Bronny James.
On ESPN’s First Take, Smith explained that he was talking about how LeBron put Bronny in a tough spot, not about Bronny’s skills. He said, ” was talking about the position [Bronny] was put in by his dad. That wasn’t a basketball player confronting me, that was a parent, that was a father”
Stephen A. Smith is standing by his comments about Bronny:
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) March 7, 2025
“I don't want enemies… but I also get paid to call it like I see it. What I said at the time, I stand by what I said… what I said about LeBron was fact based.”
(via @FirstTake, h/t @awfulannouncing) pic.twitter.com/QcW783WmPu
Smith also made it clear that his job is to talk about athletes, and he didn’t cross the line. His words were meant for LeBron, not Bronny.
