Stephen A. Smith is reacting with grace after being confronted by NBA icon LeBron James.
The sports activities commentator not solely endured watching his beloved New York Knicks lose to the Los Angeles Lakers 109-113 on Thursday, however he obtained a radical dressing-down earlier than vacating his courtside seat when James confronted him over feedback about his son.
The Lakers picked 20-year-old Bronny James within the 2024 NBA draft, which Smith decried in January with a plea to LeBron James “as a father” to cease his son from becoming a member of the NBA prematurely — after arguing that the associated media scrutiny is the elder James’ “fault.”
Their confrontation on the Crypto.com Area was captured by followers within the crowd and has since gone viral on social media. The “First Take” ESPN co-host stated on Friday’s present that he had “no intention” of discussing the matter, however he finally did so.
“That wasn’t a basketball player confronting me,” Smith stated. “That was a parent.”
“That was a father,” he continued. “I can’t sit here and be angry or feel slighted by LeBron James in any way in that regard. By all accounts, he’s obviously a wonderful family man and a wonderful father who cares very, very deeply about his son.”
“Based on some of the comments he had heard, or shall I say he thought he heard, he clearly took exception to some of the things he heard me say,” the ESPN character argued about their viral dialog. “He confronted me about it.”
Smith was seated subsequent to none aside from “Curb Your Enthusiasm” star Larry David, for whom the sudden argument might need felt like a surreal second from his present. On social media, sleuths tried their finest to decipher what precisely was stated.
“I can’t repeat the words because they ain’t suited for FCC airwaves,” Smith stated Friday.
Allen Berezovsky through Getty Photographs
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Whereas he then seemingly doubled down on his criticisms and referred to as Bronny James “a rookie” who wants “some time to get himself together” as a professional participant, Smith additionally stated he understands the place LeBron James “was coming from” — and added: “I get it. I’m not offended. I’m not insulted.”
LeBron James is one of the vital adorned basketball stars of all time and has led his earlier groups, the Miami Warmth and the Cleveland Cavaliers, as nicely the Lakers to 4 championship titles since 2012. At 40 years previous, he’s one of many oldest gamers within the NBA.
His participant statistics and fatherly pleasure additionally show he’s one of the vital devoted ones.
