LeBron James has sparked plenty of reactions across social media. During his appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show,” James opened up about the obstacles he’s encountered throughout his career. He also took the opportunity to discuss the media and its impact on him.
The four-time NBA champion is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time and has been a frequent target of criticism by the mainstream media. Both Brian Windhorst and Stephen A. Smith later addressed James’ comments while discussing the Lakers’ current situation
What Is the LeBron James-Brian Windhorst Conflict?
James’ public exchange with Smith during a Lakers-New York Knicks game, which Smith later explained stemmed from his coverage of Bronny James, sparked a back-and-forth battle between the NBA legend and the media. Despite the tension, Smith stood by his analysis of the junior James.
Windhorst, meanwhile, has covered James since before he even entered the NBA. Unlike Smith, Windhorst never made controversial remarks about James’ family, but he did, according to James, misrepresent his reasoning for key early career decisions.
James specifically called out Windhorst for promoting a narrative that he chose to wear No. 23 and sign with Nike to emulate Michael Jordan. The Lakers star dismissed this claim, explaining that his decisions were purely financial.
Whether Windhorst simply got the story wrong or not, James mocked him for trying to stay relevant by associating himself with the NBA star’s early career.
Despite having an opportunity to fire back, Windhorst took a measured approach when addressing James’ criticisms.
“I think that there are times when the media is out of balance, and I encourage NBA players to hold the media accountable when they can as long as they are OK with being held accountable by the media,” Windhorst said.
“I think at times our big challenge in really the game in the modern era is to find that balance. Let’s not have 125 3s a game, but let’s not ban the 3-pointer; let’s have a balance. When people talk about the game of basketball, they want to talk about the drama, they want to talk about the Xs and Os. But I’m telling you, if you do a full show that’s all Xs and Os, that’s not going to be any good either.”
"There's room to hold each other accountable. But the finger-pointing, I don't think that benefits anybody." @WindhorstESPN on LeBron James' recent comments. pic.twitter.com/DKQ41e95fJ
— First Take (@FirstTake) March 27, 2025
Windhorst was referencing “Mind the Game,” James’ podcast, where he and another high-IQ basketball player break down plays and strategy in extreme detail. The “Xs and Os” he mentioned refer to the on-screen drawings used to explain positioning on the court.
“You’ll have basketball coaches who want to do it. But if he sits down with Steve Nash and all he does is Xs and Os for an hour, people aren’t going to like that either. So I would just say let’s have better balance,” Windhorst said.
“But people like the drama. People like the rivalries, and people like looking at why Luka Dončić has trouble defending Tyrese Haliburton in an iso situation, which was about the way last night went as well. I think there is room for all of it, and there’s room to hold each other accountable. But the finger-pointing? I don’t think that benefits anybody.”
Windhorst’s message was clear, saying that balance is crucial in how both players and the media interact. He also subtly called out James’ podcast for being overly technical, reinforcing the idea that fans crave both strategy and entertainment.
While media narratives will always be part of the game, Windhorst’s biggest takeaway was that excessive blame-shifting only fuels unnecessary conflicts. Whether his words will lead to a healthier relationship between NBA players and the media remains to be seen.