The NBA has always thrived on its intense rivalries. The league has always been fueled by heated debates, from Shaq vs. Dwight Howard to Kevin Durant vs. Charles Barkley. But this time, it’s not happening on the hardwood; it’s unfolding in the media. The new drama that has taken center stage is LeBron James vs. Stephen A. Smith drama
What started as a courtside spat during the Lakers’ March 6 win over the New York Knicks (113-109) has spiraled into a full-blown media spectacle. Smith initially claimed he wouldn’t engage further, but he couldn’t resist addressing the topic on The Stephen A. Smith Show. Now, James, who had remained silent for weeks, finally broke his silence, adding a dramatic turn to this beef.
LeBron James Didn’t Spare Smith This Time
James recently appeared on a new episode of the ‘The Pat McAfee Show,’ and he did not hold back. The Lakers’ elite likened Smith’s media antics to a “Taylor Swift tour run,” suggesting that the veteran analyst was exploiting their feud to stay in the spotlight.
“He’s like on a Taylor Swift tour run right now…It started off with, ‘I didn’t want to address it. He wasn’t going to address it but since the video came out, I feel the need to address.’ Motherf****r, are you kidding me? If there’s one person that couldn’t wait until the video drop so you could address it, it’s your a**.” said James during the podcast.
As mentioned earlier, the drama between James and Smith erupted during the Lakers’ victory over the New York Knicks on March 6th, when the 40-year-old could be clearly seen shouting, “Keep my son out of this s***, bro,” to Smith during a timeout in the game.
Many assumed that James was fuming because Smith had critiqued Bronny James’ game, but the Lakers superstar later clarified in the podcast that his frustration stemmed from something deeper. It wasn’t just about basketball but it was personal. James felt that Smith’s words weren’t simply analysis; but they were a direct shot at his family. As a father, he saw the comments as unfairly targeting his son’s future rather than offering constructive criticism.
SEE MORE: Stephen A. Smith Humiliates Doc Rivers on National TV Despite Decades-Old Friendship
“He completely, like, missed the whole point. The whole point. Never would I ever not allow people to talk about the sport, criticize players about what they do on the court. That is your job to criticize or be in a position where if a guy’s not performing, that’s all part of the game. But when you take it and you get personal with it, it’s my job to not only protect my damn household but protect the players. I think a lot of the media, including him and I know he’s going to be happy as hell. He’s going to be smiling from ear to ear when he hears me talking about him again. Oh my God. He’s going to get home and get some ice cream out of his f*****g freezer and sit in his chair in his tidy whities on his couch. Like, dude, like relax.” added James during the podcast.
“He’s like on a Taylor Swift tour run right now…He couldn’t wait for the video to come out…”
– LeBron on Stephen A. Smith
(Via @PatMcAfeeShow )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 26, 2025
This feud is bigger than just Bronny. Smith has long been one of LeBron’s most vocal critics, frequently questioning his standing in the GOAT debate. He has even openly ridiculed NFL veteran Shannon Sharpe for championing LeBron as the greatest of all time.
But while the media circus continues, Bronny is letting his game do the talking. The young guard recently dropped a career-high 39 points in the G League against the Santa Cruz Warriors, proving that he is more than just his father’s son. His performance is a direct answer to critics who doubted his ability to shine at the professional level.
What started as a heated moment during a timeout has now become a full-blown spectacle. With Smith unlikely to back down and LeBron showing he’s willing to push back, this battle of words is far from over. One thing is certain: the NBA’s biggest star has made it clear that when it comes to his family, he won’t stay silent.
However, did you know that Bronny wasn’t the only one Smith took the shot at?
James Was Also the Target of Smith
As said by James, Smith, never one to miss an opportunity to capitalize on a controversy, immediately took to his show to dissect the situation after the March 6th beef. However, his criticism of James didn’t stop there. Smith made sure his opinions were heard across multiple platforms, taking shots at James beyond just his usual ESPN setting.
One of the more surprising moments came when Smith was invited to appear on Gilbert Arenas’ show, Gil’s Arena. On this platform, Smith didn’t hold back, going as far as to call LeBron “weak” for prioritizing his role as a father.
“I thought it was weak, I thought it was some bulls**t. But in the moment, I knew that I was listening to a father,” said Smith during the podcast.
What made this exchange even more awkward was Arenas’ own stance on James. For years, Arenas has openly called James the greatest of all time, making Smith’s remarks feel out of place in that setting.
“The reason I felt that LeBron is the GOAT is because during pressure times, he still makes the actual right decision vs. what us fans and the public wants him to do, said Arenas during one of the episodes of his podcast.
It’s possible that such comments contributed to LeBron speaking out today, as he rarely addresses media narratives but may have felt compelled to respond to the growing discourse around his leadership and family values.