Stephen A. Smith Reveals What LeBron James Said to Him in Heated Confrontation During Game

Mar. 15, 2025

LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith.Photo:LegendOFWinning/X

LegendOFWinning/X

Stephen A. Smithis offering clarity as to whatLeBron Jamessaid to him during a heated courtside discussion caught on camera Thursday night.

The 57-year-old ESPN personality was sitting courtside for the Los Angeles Lakers’ dramatic come-from-behind overtime win against the New York Knicks, which culminated with James, 40, getting face-to-face with Smith before leaving the court after the game concluded.

LeBron James; Stephen A. Smith.Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty; Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty

Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty; Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty

On ESPN’sFirst Takeprogram Friday morning, Smithconfirmedthat’s what LeBron was yelling at him about, though he said he’s “not blaming” LeBron “one bit” for defending his son.

“I really understood where he was coming from,” Smith said. “He was very, very upset. I could tell. But he could’ve called me. I’d have came to see him. I’d have had a conversation with him. He could’ve been just as upset face-to-face, man-to-man as opposed to being courtside at the game. I had no idea that everybody saw it until I woke up this morning, but it is what it is 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 or animus towards LeBron James for this, nothing like that.”Smith continued, clarifying : “If I was in his position, I can’t definitively say I would not have done the same thing. I’m not blaming him one bit, I understand it. And there’s a part of me that aches and hurts because of it. But unlike a whole bunch of people with their podcast and beyond that talk about the NBA, I cover the NBA. And it’s my job to talk about the subjects and the subject matters that matter.”

LeBron James.Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty

Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times via Getty

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Smith has said in recent weeks that he believes Bronny,who has averaged 1.4 points per gamethis season after averaging just over 4 points per game during his college career, is only in the NBA “because of his dad.”

Stephen A. Smith.Allen Berezovsky/Getty

Allen Berezovsky/Getty

source: people.com