This is one of those moments where you don’t need a lip reader but if you listen real close, air hustle that is, then you probably will hear what LeBron is saying, and why.
Okay, so it appears James recently shed light on what sparked his confrontation with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith during a Lakers game last week.
James shared his side of the story with one of Smith’s ESPN colleagues, Richard Jefferson, a former teammate from their Cleveland Cavaliers days and now an NBA analyst. During a pre-game moment before the Lakers faced the Boston Celtics on Saturday, James and Jefferson were seen chatting near the court. While their conversation wasn’t broadcast, snippets of their discussion were captured, offering a glimpse into what had upset James.
https://x.com/legendz_nba/status/1898909798277488672
If you click on the footage, James can be heard saying, “Once he talks about, ‘I’m pleading with you as a father,’ I can’t.” This appears to reference a January segment on ESPN’s First Take, where Smith criticized Bronny’s playing time with the Lakers. On January 28, Bronny logged a season-high 15 minutes and 26 seconds in a game against the Philadelphia 76ers but failed to score, missing all five of his field-goal attempts. The Lakers lost 118-104, and Smith addressed the performance the next day.
“I am pleading with LeBron James as a father: Stop this,” Smith said on First Take. “Stop this. We all know that Bronny James is in the NBA because of his dad.” Smith continued, “How are you doing him favors? We know that he’s not ready yet. And I’m saying this with compassion. … You know what these numbers mean. You know what it’s going to do to your son, to people that are missing out on opportunities, that are busting their tail on other NBA teams and the G League and Europe and everywhere else, what kind of opportunity they’re starving for. You’re exposing your son like this?”
Bronny, the Lakers’ No. 55 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, has split his time between the Lakers and their G League affiliate this season. With the Lakers, he’s averaged 1.4 points, 0.4 rebounds, and 0.4 assists in 18 games, while in the G League, he’s posted more robust numbers: 17.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 4.6 assists in 15 games. Smith acknowledged Bronny’s potential during his commentary, stating, “We love what we’re seeing from him in the G League, because that’s where you belong as you hone your skills and you get better and you legitimately earn [your spot], which I believe he has the potential to do.”
Smith also expressed support for Bronny, saying, “I am rooting for Bronny James. It would be cruel to root against him. He’s a wonderful kid. I wish him nothing but the best. But he’s LeBron James’ son, and everybody knows what attention that brings.”
Despite Smith’s professed compassion, his comments clearly struck a nerve with LeBron. During the Lakers-Knicks game, James approached Smith, who was sitting courtside with Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel and actor Larry David. Witnesses described James as visibly upset and animated as he spoke to Smith face-to-face between the third and fourth quarters.
Reflecting on the encounter, Smith later said, “That wasn’t a basketball player confronting me. That was a parent. That was a father. I can’t sit here and be angry or feel slighted by LeBron James in any way in that regard. By all accounts, he’s obviously a wonderful family man and a wonderful father who cares very, very deeply about his son. … He clearly took exception to some of the things he heard me say and he confronted me about it.”