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ESPN prima Stephen A. Smith spoke astatine magnitude astir his viral courtside enactment with LeBron James past week, and initially appeared empathetic astir his gripe; however, the fashionable sports expert expanded connected his thoughts this week, calling the Lakers superstar’s attack astir the contented "weak."
The heated confrontation took spot during the 3rd 4th of the Lakers’ overtime triumph implicit the New York Knicks connected Thursday. It seemingly centered connected James’ contented with Smith’s commentary connected Bronny James.
Stephen A. Smith connected the ESPN NBA Countdown unrecorded acceptable astatine Intuit Dome connected Oct. 23, 2024. (Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
The pursuing day, during an quality connected "First Take," Smith called the enactment "unexpected" but said helium did not harbor immoderate ill-will towards James due to the fact that helium understood the presumption helium was in.
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"That wasn’t a hoops subordinate confronting me, that was a parent, that was a father. I can’t beryllium present and beryllium aggravated oregon consciousness slighted by LeBron James successful that regard. By each accounts, he’s evidently a fantastic household antheral and begetter who cares very, precise profoundly astir his son, and based connected immoderate of the comments helium had heard — oregon shall I accidental I deliberation helium thought helium heard — intelligibly took objection to immoderate of the things helium heard maine say, and helium confronted maine astir it."
However, different viral video of James discussing the confrontation with erstwhile teammate and existent ESPN broadcaster Richard Jefferson connected Saturday has reignited the issue.
"I thought it was weak, I thought it was immoderate bulls---. But successful the moment, I knew that I was listening to a father," Smith said Tuesday during an quality connected the "Gil’s Arena" podcast.
LeBron James, #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers, looks connected during the crippled against the San Antonio Spurs connected Jan. 13, 2025 astatine Crypto.com Arena successful Los Angeles. (Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
STEPHEN A SMITH SAYS BRONNY JAMES WAS FOCAL POINT OF 'UNEXPECTED' COURTSIDE CONFRONTATION LEBRON JAMES
Smith reiterated that helium was caught disconnected defender by the confrontation, and helium expanded connected the speech helium had with James.
"He said, ‘Yo, you gotta halt talking s--- astir my son. You gotta halt f---ing with my lad – that’s my son. That’s my son."
Smith said the archetypal confrontation was astir what James "thought" Smith said astir his son, which is wherefore helium was surprised. However, the speech with Jefferson was centered connected Smith’s existent criticism, which centered connected James’ propulsion for his lad to get drafted and play successful the league arsenic a rookie earlier helium was ready.
"I thought that helium misrepresented the argument, I was gladsome helium did," Smith continued. "Because what helium was truly talking about, which was confirmed with his speech with Richard Jefferson – is that I was talking astir him arsenic a father. Had helium said that to me, I wouldn’t person been thrown off. I would’ve came close backmost astatine him — yes I was, I was talking astir you, you did this s---."
LeBron James, #23, and Bronny James, #9 of the Los Angeles Lakers, connected the tribunal for the archetypal clip during the crippled against the Minnesota Timberwolves astatine Crypto.com Arena connected Oct. 22, 2024 successful Los Angeles. (Allen Berezovsky/Getty Images)
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Bronny James was drafted retired of USC successful the 2nd circular of the 2024 NBA Draft. He has appeared successful 18 games this play and is averaging 1.4 points, 0.4 rebounds and 0.4 assists per game.
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