Stephen A. Smith has issued an apology to LeBron James after accusers the Lakers star of skipping out on late basketball legend Kobe Bryant’s memorial.
“If LeBron James wants to see me continue to cover this sport, or he wants to have a problem with me continuing to cover this sport, I suggest that he be happy with the things that I haven’t brought up,” Smith said on First Take. “I never brought up really and never really discussed why you were not at Kobe Bryant’s memorial service.”
Stephen A. Smith goes off on LeBron James and exposes him for not attending Kobe Bryant’s memorial
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 27, 2025
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Smith then went on to call LeBron out for not attending Dwyane Wade’s Hall of Fame induction.
However, after Smith’s remarks went viral, The Los Angeles Times and Washington Post confirmed the athlete was in attendance but asked the media not to film or photograph him out of respect to Bryant and his family.
“My apologies and clarification,” Smith wrote on X. “I misspoke in Hour#1 of @FirstTake today when I intimated that LeBron did not attend Kobe Bryant’s memorial. I corrected myself in Hour#2 when I acknowledged he was indeed in attendance. My mistake. Should not have even broached that subject. It was not my main point. I retract NOTHING else that I said. Have a nice day!”