(L) LeBron James in a game with the Los Angeles Lakers on March 6, 2025; (R) Stephen A. Smith at an NFL game on Feb. 7, 2025. Photo:
Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty; Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty
LeBron James has broken his silence on that viral confrontation with Stephen A. Smith.
During the The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday, March 26, the 40-year-old Lakers superstar addressed his squabble with the commentator over criticism of his son Bronny James and joked that Smith, 57, was on a “Taylor Swift tour run right now,” as he continues speaking publicly about the incident.
James said that Smith, whose comments about Bronny, 20, not being ready to play in the NBA on ESPN’s First Take upset the four-time NBA champion, “completely missed the whole point” of their conversation on the sidelines after a Lakers game on March 6.
Bronny (left) and LeBron James during NBA game on January 28, 2025. Emilee Chinn/Getty
“Never would I ever not allow people who talk about the sport to criticize players about what they do on the court,” James said on Wednesday. “That is your job to criticize, or to be in a position where if a guys not performing, that’s all part of the game.”
The father of three said, however, when Smith got “personal” with his criticism of Bronny, 20, it became James’ “job” to “protect my damn household” and “protect the players.”
James also poked fun at Smith — who initially said he only addressed the incident because the video went viral — for being the “one person that couldn’t wait for the video to drop” so he could “address” it.
“And I know he’s going to be happy as hell when he hears me talking about him,” James continued, suggesting that Smith would be “smiling from ear to ear” when he sees the NBA superstar talking about him.
(L) Stephen A. Smith; (R) LeBron James. Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty;Luke Hales/Getty
“He’s going to get home and grab some ice cream out of the f—— freezer and sit in his chair in his tighty-whities on the couch.”
“Relax, bro. Like, relax, like seriously,” James concluded.
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The NBA’s all-time leading scorer also reflected on the balance of being a father and teammate to Bronny, who was drafted by the Lakers in June 2024. “It doesn’t matter if he never scores,” James said. “For me as a dad, I’m just super proud of him as a young man.”
On the other hand, James said he’s seen first-hand the hard work Bronny has put in since the draft and he wants to see him “thrive” on the court. “I’m super proud of his development to where he is now,” James said of his oldest son.
