LeBron James fired back on ESPN star Stephen A. Smith in an interview Wednesday with Sports Pundit’s colleague, Pat McAfee, after a video of the Los Angeles Lakers star who confronted Smith appeared earlier this month.
James appeared on the “The Pat McAfee Show” and addressed how the media covers NBA.
He said Smith was on a “Taylor Swift Tour Run right now” and seemed to spot how Smith turned to the viral clip when he said he would not initially address it.
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Los Angeles Lakers Spider LeBron James, right, drives around Orlando Magic Forward Franz Wagner (22) during the first half of March 24, 2025 in Orlando, FLA. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
“Morf — is, are you tackling with me? If there is someone who couldn’t wait until the video falls so you could tackle it is your A–. As, seriously?”
Then James became a little more serious.
“And another (thing). He completely missed the whole point, the whole point. Never in my … Never would I ever not allow people to talk about the sport, criticize players about what they do on the field. It’s your job – to criticize or be in a position where, ok, a guy who doesn’t perform … It’s all with the game. When you take it, and when you get it, it’s my job not to protect my job, which protects the players.
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LeBron James (23) and Bronny James (9) from Los Angeles Lakers on the field for the first time during a game against Minnesota Timberwolves at Crypto.com Arena October 22, 2024 in Los Angeles. (Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
“I think a lot of the media, including him, and I know he will be happy like hell, he will smile from ear to ear when he hears me talk about him. … like, relax bridge.”
The dispute was over Smith’s remarks about Lebron’s son, Bronny. The older son of LeBron was a prominent high school athlete who played a season at the USC while overcoming a cardiac arrest before deciding to turn pro.
Lakers chose Bronny James in the draft last summer, and he and LeBron made history earlier in the season by becoming the first father-son duo on the field together.
Smith has said Bronny James is only in the NBA “because of” lebron. The four-time NBA master let Smith know he didn’t like the comments.
Los Angeles Laker’s pointed LeBron James looks at his teammates play during the first half against San Antonio Spurs in Los Angeles March 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
“It wasn’t a basketball player who confronted me. It was a parent. It was a father,” Smith said earlier this month at ESPN. “I can’t sit here and be angry or feel weakened by LeBron James in that regard. In all accounts, he’s obviously a wonderful family man and father who is interested in very, very deeply about his son.
“And based on some of the comments he had heard – or should I say I think he thought he heard – clearly some of the things he heard me say and he confronted me about it.”
