Stephen A. Smith says LeBron James confronting him was 'weak': 'I was talking about you,' not Bronny

Stephen A. Smith thought LeBron James confronting him was “weak.”

He besides thought it was “some bulls—.”

Days aft helium archetypal spoke astir James angrily addressing him look to look courtside during the 3rd 4th of the Knicks-Lakers crippled Thursday, Smith had much to accidental astir the brushwood and its aftermath connected a caller occurrence of the “Gil’s Arena” podcast. The ESPN property said that the Lakers superstar got “right present successful my face” coming retired of a timeout and kept shouting for him to “stop talking s— astir my son.”

“I said, ‘Yo, let’s speech later,’” Smith recounted to erstwhile NBA subordinate Gilbert Arenas and his cohosts. “He’s like, ‘F— that, nah. F— that. You gotta halt f— with my son.’ And I said, ‘All right, though,’ and helium walked off.

James’ oldest lad Bronny is besides his teammate. The Lakers drafted him astatine No. 55 wide past summertime and the 2 became the archetypal father-son duo to stock an NBA tribunal unneurotic connected opening night. Since then, the younger James has divided his clip betwixt the Lakers and the G League, averaging 1.4 points per crippled portion playing successful the NBA.

Smith spoke retired astir the concern connected the Jan. 29 occurrence of “First Take,” the time aft Bronny scored zero points connected zero-for-five shooting portion playing much than 15 minutes successful a nonaccomplishment to the Philadelphia 76ers.

“I americium pleading with LeBron James arsenic a father: Stop this,” Smith said astatine the time. “Stop this. We each cognize that Bronny James is successful the NBA due to the fact that of his dad.”

At past week’s game, Smith said, Bronny caught his oculus during a first-quarter timeout.

“Bronny looked implicit astatine me, and helium had this bittersweet look connected his face,” Smith said. “I’m imagining Pop saw that s—. It deed him. And helium couldn’t clasp it, and helium rolled up connected me.”

Earlier Thursday, quality had go nationalist astir Smith’s caller five-year, $100-million declaration with ESPN. After the video of the James incidental went viral overnight, Smith said, “the bosses astatine ESPN” told him to code the matter. He did truthful connected Friday’s occurrence of “First Take.”

“That wasn’t a hoops subordinate confronting me. That was a parent,” Smith said. “That was a father. I can’t beryllium present and beryllium aggravated oregon consciousness slighted by LeBron James successful immoderate mode successful that regard.”

Smith has besides discussed the incidental connected his ain podcast, “The Stephen A. Smith Show.” James hasn’t commented publically astir the incident. Over the weekend, however, video footage became nationalist of James speaking astir it with Richard Jefferson, a erstwhile teammate and existent ESPN analyst.

“Once helium talks about, ‘I’m pleading with you arsenic a father,’ I can’t,” James sounded similar helium told Jefferson earlier the Lakers’ roadworthy crippled against the Boston Celtics connected Saturday.

That, Smith said connected Arenas’ podcast, convinced him that James’ contented wasn’t truly with Smith talking critically astir Bronny’s play connected the court.

“You see, what helium was truly talking astir — which was confirmed with his speech with Richard Jefferson — is that I was talking astir him arsenic a father,” Smith said.

If James had accurately presented his grievances, Smith said, his ain absorption would person been different.

“Had helium said that to me, past I wouldn’t person been thrown off,” Smith said. “I’d person came close backmost astatine him: ‘Yes, I was. I was talking astir you. You did this s—.’”

Smith added: “But due to the fact that helium didn’t bash that, I said, ‘Fine.’ You fto it go. Mind you, I conscionable agreed to my contract. I’m courtside. That time was erstwhile it was announced. It’s each over, each implicit everywhere. It’s a nationally televised game. The cameras are rolling. And I’m like, ‘If I bash anything, this going to beryllium a scene.’

“Now, we tin beryllium present successful beforehand each we privation to and enactment similar we don’t enactment for somebody. Dammit, I enactment for Walt Disney. And if I had gotten into immoderate s— with [James] astatine courtside close determination astatine that moment, nary substance however close I would person been, it would person been wrong. And I was like, ‘I’m not gonna bash this.’ But erstwhile I saw the portion of him talking to Richard Jefferson [on] Saturday nighttime successful Boston, that was erstwhile I got truly pissed due to the fact that that was confirmation.”