ESPN star Stephen A. Smith, who reportedly bred a lucrative contract extension with the network, turned to his recent interaction with four-time NBA champion LeBron James.
Smith was ready for Los Angeles Lakers’ overtime victory over New York Knicks on Thursday. But the confrontation between Smith and James overshadowed the events of the game.
Smith said the exchange originated from the NBA Super Star’s concern about the TV personality’s remarks about his eldest son, Bronny Janes. Smith also described the incident as “unexpectedly.”
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Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James (IMagn)
“It was LeBron James who came up to me – unexpectedly, I could add – to confronting me to make sure I mind what I say about I say about his son,” Smith said on “first take” with reference to Laker’s rookie.
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“Can’t repeat the words because they’re not suitable for FCC air waves, that’s what he did. And I thought long and hard on this for the past few hours because I didn’t intend to talk about this at all,” Smith said of the viral moment.
And the reason was because it was a one-on-one, I wouldn’t say it was a conversation, but it was a one-on-one confrontation. But then I wake up and everyone from ESPN, my agent and everyone else who sent me that this thing had become viral, so in the end it was inevitable and that is why I have to discuss it now. “
October 23, 2024; Inglewood, California: Stephen A. Smith (Stephen Smith) at ESPN NBA COUNTDOWN LIVE SET ON INTUIT DOME. (Kirby Lee-Preferred Pictures)
Smith suggested that the interaction had been between a few fathers, more than an exchange between a basketball player and a sports -TV star.
Los Angeles Lakers Guard Bronny James (9) and Frem LeBron James (23), warming up before the game against Phoenix Suns at Crypto.com Arena. (Jonathan Hui-Preferred Pictures)
“It wasn’t a basketball player who confronted me, it was a parent, it was a father. I can’t sit here and be angry or feel weakened by LeBron James in that regard. At all the stories he is obviously a wonderful family man and father who is interested in very, very deeply about his son, and that he has based on some of the comments he – Clearly that he exempted that except things he heard me, and he confronted, and he confronted it. “
Smith also suggested he would be open to having further discussions with James privately.
