LeBron James, ESPN's Stephen A. Smith continue feud over NBA media coverage
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith escalated their war of words that began earlier this month when James confronted Smith during a Lakers game over Smith’s coverage of his son.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith escalated their war of words that began earlier this month when James confronted Smith during a Lakers game over Smith’s coverage of his son.
James, appearing on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show,” criticized Smith for making personal attacks as opposed to discussing on-court play when talking about the NBA, and also accused him for exploiting their confrontation for personal gain.
The back and forth began on March 6, when James sought out Smith for an animated conversation before the fourth quarter of a Los Angeles win over the New York Knicks, with both sides since confirming the conversation centered on Smith’s coverage of James’s son Bronny James, whom the Lakers drafted with the 55th pick last June.
Smith had been critical of Bronny James earlier this season, saying in late January that the younger James belonged in the developmental G-League and not the NBA.
“I am pleading with LeBron James as a father: stop this. Stop this,” Smith said on ESPN’s “First Take” in late January. “We all know that Bronny James is in the NBA because of his dad.”
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