In a game that delivered everything, NBA fans were left buzzing after LeBron James took a stand for his family against one of the icons in sports media, ESPN’s Stephen. A Smith.
During the Los Angeles Lakers 113-109 overtime win against the New York Knicks at Crypto.com Arena, James had just delivered a masterclass performance, tallying 31 points, 12 rebounds, and eight assists in a pivotal late-season win. Yet, despite the big win, James’ focus seemed to shift to a more personal matter.
How Fans Reacted to the Moment
James, the face of the NBA, was caught on camera visibly seething as he approached Smith. In a moment that has since set social media ablaze, James’ exact words were: “Keep my son out of this s***, bro.” He then turned and casually headed towards the locker room, leaving Smith (and all NBA fans) genuinely stunned.
“I’MMA TELL YOU ONE TIME, BRO. KEEP MY SON OUT OF THIS ****, BRO.”
What LeBron James allegedly said to Stephen A. Smith during a break in the Lakers vs. Knicks game 😳🗣️
Thoughts? 🤔
Via. @LegendOfWinning pic.twitter.com/VOvxOfdMH3
— Courtside Buzz (@CourtsideBuzzX)
The reaction on social media was instant and explosive, with NBA fans from all walks of life as passionate and opinionated as ever. One fan, in particular, echoed a sentiment that has been growing louder for some time now, saying, “NO. Your son a grown a** man. He gonna get this smoke.”
Another fan agreed, saying, “His son is an NBA player, his game is gonna be discussed just like everyone else. LeBron trippin here.”
What Sparked the Altercation?
Over the past several months, Smith, known for making bold and oftentimes polarizing comments, has repeatedly targeted Bronny James. On a January episode of ESPN’s “First Take,” Smith made it clear the only reason why he believes Bronny is in the NBA:
"I am pleading with LeBron James, as a father. Stop this." 😳 @stephenasmith reacts to Bronny James' play in the Lakers 118-104 loss to the 76ers. pic.twitter.com/bk5D0DS42N
— First Take (@FirstTake)
“We all know that Bronny James is in the NBA because of his dad,” Smith said. “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 it.”
“But he’s LeBron James’ son, and everybody knows what attention that brings. Right now, Bronny James is averaging 0.3 points, 0.3 assists, and 0.4 rebounds. You know what people are saying. You know what people are going to do to this kid… How are you doing him favors? We know that he’s not ready yet.”
Even outside of these comments, Smith has continuously commented on Bronny’s lackluster performance during his brief NBA stint, highlighting again how he just isn’t ready for the bright lights.
However, it’s the obvious hint of nepotism that’s behind James’ point of contention with Smith.
While many believe that James’ reaction was understandable, others believe that any NBA professional should be open to criticism, regardless of who their dad is. That doesn’t mean James can’t react the way he did; it’s as expected when somebody else starts talking about your family. But two things can be true: Smith’s comments were fair and so was James’ reaction.
