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ESPN host Stephen A. Smith suggested LeBron James’ treatment of certain people may be affected by their race.
Smith, in an interview on “The Pivot Podcast” with Ryan Clark, addressed his recent interactions with James and appeared to reference an incident where James confronted Smith at a Lakers game back in March.
“Have you ever seen LeBron walk up to a white kid? Let’s call it what it is. Have you ever seen him do that? You want to say you saw him coming at me,” Smith said.
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ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith had some interesting comments about NBA star LeBron James. (IMAGIN)
Smith continued to appear to address the incident and Smith’s earlier criticism of James’ Lakers’ handling of the superstar’s son, Bronny James.
“Anyone with professional ethics who knows sports and knows what goes into it knows I did nothing wrong with that young man. But to paint me as someone who would attack a kid just because I don’t like you is low, it’s low,” Smith said.
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After one Los Angeles Lakers game against the New York Knicks back in March, Smith revealed that the incident stemmed from his televised criticism of Bronny later in March.
“It wasn’t a basketball player that confronted me. It was a parent. It was a father,” Smith said on ESPN. “I can’t sit here and be angry or feel slighted by LeBron James in that regard. By all accounts, he’s obviously a wonderful family man and father who cares very, very deeply about his son.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and ESPN host Stephen A. Smith speak before a game in LA on March 3, 2022. (Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)
James pushed back against this view in an interview on “The Pat McAfee Show” on ESPN later that month.
“Never, I would never let people talk about the sport, criticize players for what they do on the field. That’s your job — to criticize or be in a position where, okay, a guy doesn’t perform … it’s all part of the game. When you take it and when you get personal with it, it’s my job not just to protect my goddamn household, but to protect the players,” James said.
