Stephen A. Smith Shares His Feelings About LeBron James

The relationship between media and athletes has walked a fine line over time. While some analysts, reporters, or broadcasters have tight, positive relationships with players and coaches, others could find themselves in a WWE storyline. The relationship between ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith and L.A. Lakers star LeBron James has become one of the most toxic feuds in recent memory.

On March 6, 2025, James approached Smith, who was sitting courtside at Crypto.com Arena when the Lakers hosted the New York Knicks. Rather than any friendly banter, James warned Smith to “keep my son out of this sh*t, bro” after the latter had criticized Bronny James’ rookie season performance and stated that the younger James was only in the league because of his famous father.  After initially acknowledging that a father was just standing up for his son, Smith felt that the moment was a setup, questioning why there was only one camera angle, focused more on James’ face, without showing Smith’s. 

Taking what seemed to be the higher ground, James responded to his actions on “The Pat McAfee Show,” saying, “When you take it, and you get personal with it, it’s my job not only to protect my damn household but protect the players.”

Smith recently appeared on Carmelo Anthony’s “7 PM in Brooklyn” podcast, declaring, “I don’t like his a**, not one bit,” stating that their negative relationship dated back over a decade. Smith also added that he believed the NBA icon tried to railroad his career, “If it were up to him, I wouldn’t be where I am today… it’s some low, low, sh*t.”

Anthony’s show wasn’t the only one that Smith took a verbal swing at James on, as earlier this week, the New York native also appeared on “The Pivot” podcast, questionably bringing race into the conversation about his feelings towards James’ behind-the-scenes behavior and motivations. “You ever see LeBron go at a white boy? Let’s call it what it is,” he said, believing that James treated white journalists differently from journalists of color. Smith also declared that James was two-faced, acting one way publicly and another privately.

What began as a typical sports commentary has helped add fuel to a presumed personal vendetta with the behavior of both men continuing to dominate the headlines and overshadow the actual game of basketball.