LeBron James Confronts Stephen A. Smith Over Bronny Criticism

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LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith found themselves at the center of a viral moment Thursday night during the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the New York Knicks. Cameras captured a heated courtside exchange between the four-time NBA champion and the ESPN personality, sparking speculation on social media about what was said. Now, Smith has broken his silence to clear the air.

https://twitter.com/LegendOfWinning/status/1897912096370647402

According to Smith, the confrontation stemmed from LeBron’s frustration over criticism of his son, Bronny James. While there was speculation that James called Smith a “punk” or other derogatory names, the analyst firmly denied that, instead recounting LeBron’s words directly.

“He was fiery,” Smith said on his show. “He approached me during the game and he said, ‘Stop (expletive) with my son. That’s my (expletive) son. Stop (expletive) with my son.'”

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) interacts with son Bronny James Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Smith, caught off guard, tried to de-escalate the situation but noted that LeBron was insistent.

“I saw how furious he was,” Smith continued. “And I said we can talk about it later. [LeBron responded] ‘Nah, (expletive) that. (Expletive) that. Stop (expletive) with my son. That’s my son. That’s my son.'”

Bronny James, LeBron’s eldest son, has been a hot topic of discussion in NBA circles. After being selected in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft by the Lakers, Bronny has struggled to find consistent playing time. Splitting time between the Lakers and their G-League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers, Bronny has averaged just 4.2 minutes per game in his rookie season, with modest stats of 1.4 points, 0.4 assists, and 0.4 rebounds per game. Given his limited role and performance, Smith has been vocal in his opinions and analysis, questioning whether Bronny was ready for the NBA or if he was drafted primarily due to his father’s influence- aka a ‘nepo-baby’

While LeBron’s passion for defending his son is understandable, Smith made it clear that he would not shy away from giving his professional opinion on any player, including Bronny. It remains to be seen whether Smith will soften his stance moving forward, but one thing is certain—the basketball world will be watching closely as this situation continues to unfold.