Stephen A. Smith is still reeling from his confrontation with LeBron James and slammed him in a recent interview on Gil’s Arena podcast.
James confronted Smith after the sports commentator slammed his son and rising ball player Bronny James, for using his influence to get his son into the NBA during a First Take segment back in January.
“I am pleading with LeBron James, as a father — stop this, stop this,” Smith said at the time. “We all know that Bronny James is in the NBA because of his dad. … We know that (Bronny isn’t) ready yet, and I’m saying this with compassion.”
"I am pleading with LeBron James, as a father. Stop this." @stephenasmith reacts to Bronny James' play in the Lakers 118-104 loss to the 76ers. pic.twitter.com/bk5D0DS42N
— First Take (@FirstTake) January 29, 2025
Smith said Bronny belongs in the G-League.
“I thought it was weak,” Smith said when asked about the showdown this week. “I thought it was some bulls–t — but in the moment, I knew that I was listening to a father.”
Arenas seemingly backed Smith, issuing a warning to the NBA star.
"I thought it was weak."
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 11, 2025
– Stephen A. Smith on LeBron confronting him
( @GilsArenaShow / @UnderdogFantasy )
pic.twitter.com/JCnQusNTxM
“LeBron James, if you ever do that s–t again [with] my potential boss, all hell gonna break loose,” Arenas jokingly said on his podcast. “Don’t you ever in your muthaf—a in life walk up on a $100 million man during his celebration. And that goes for all y’all out there. If you ever try to run up on Stephen A., [Kendrick Perkins] is gonna get ya.”