Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James have been trading jabs for weeks.

 

 

But now Stephen just took it to a whole new level.

Word is he leaked a video that fans are calling career-ending for LeBron.

This feud just got real, and it’s getting personal.

So what did Stephen reveal, and why has it got everyone talking?

Let’s break it down.

Stephen A. Smith goes too far.

The NBA world was rocked earlier this year when one of sports media’s most recognizable faces found himself in an unexpected confrontation with basketball royalty.

What started as commentary quickly escalated into a heated exchange that dominated headlines for weeks.

The feud between Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James has its roots in something deeply personal—a father’s protection of his son.

You see, Bronny James isn’t just any rookie in the NBA.

He’s the son of perhaps the greatest basketball player of all time.

And with that comes a level of scrutiny most young players could never imagine.

When Stephen A. Smith decided to share his thoughts about Bronny’s NBA readiness, he probably didn’t expect it would lead to one of the most public confrontations in recent sports media history.

Let’s rewind to where this all began.

In early 2025, Stephen A. Smith made some pointed comments about Bronny James during an episode of First Take.

Following a game where Bronny played 15 minutes without scoring against the Philadelphia 76ers, Smith didn’t hold back.

“Last night as the Lakers lost to the 76ers 118 to 104, Bronny was held scoreless in 15 minutes and struggled guarding Sixers star Tyrese Maxey,” he said.

This set the stage for what would become an increasingly critical take.

 

 

Stephen A. went on to make what many considered a controversial statement about why Bronny was in the NBA at all.

He said, “I am pleading with LeBron James as a father: Stop this. Stop this. We all know that Bronny James is in the NBA because of his dad.”

The commentary didn’t stop there.

Stephen A. expanded on his thoughts, suggesting that LeBron was doing a disservice not just to his son but to other aspiring players as well.

He said, “Can’t go into the G-League and average 20, 25 and stay there until he’s ready? Because he’s LeBron’s son. You know how they’re going to judge him.”

Before anybody wanted to jump on him, Smith drew comparisons that some felt were unfair, particularly given Bronny’s health challenges.

Remember, Bronny had suffered a cardiac arrest in July 2023 during his time at USC, which significantly impacted his collegiate career.

Despite this, Stephen A. compared Bronny’s situation to others, even invoking a boxing analogy about Marvis Frazier being knocked out by Larry Holmes.

He implied LeBron wasn’t protecting his son by pushing him into the league too soon.

“I used a boxing analogy on First Take earlier today,” Smith said.

“I used Marvis Frazier, the son of Joe Frazier. Go back and look at the highlights. He went into the ring against heavyweight champion Larry Holmes, who had one of the best jabs and one of the best right hands in boxing history.”

To fully understand the impact of these comments, we need to look at the numbers Stephen A. was referencing.

He repeatedly highlighted Bronny’s early NBA statistics, which admittedly weren’t impressive on paper.

With LeBron James’ mystique hovering over him, Bronny posted 0.3 points, 0.3 assists, 0.4 rebounds, shooting one for 16 overall and 0 for 7 from three-point range in 13 games.

“There are millions of kids out there starving to play in an NBA game that are more qualified than his stats show,” Smith said.

 

 

These comments struck a nerve not just with fans but, as we would soon discover, with LeBron James himself.

To fully appreciate why these remarks were so provocative, we need to understand the context of LeBron’s relationship with his son and his very public dream of playing alongside Bronny in the NBA.

LeBron had been vocal for years about his desire to share the court with his son.

In a 2022 interview, he made his intentions crystal clear, stating, “My last year will be played with my son. Wherever Bronny is at, that’s where I’ll be. I would do whatever it takes to play with my son for one year.”

This wasn’t just a passing comment.

It was a dream he had consistently expressed.

When that dream became reality in 2024 with the Lakers drafting Bronny, LeBron called it his greatest basketball accomplishment.

“It’s probably, you know, when it comes to basketball, it’s the greatest accomplishment that I’ve ever had,” he said.

“Done it all as an individual, but there’s no greater accomplishment that would overtake me being on the same floor as my son.”

This wasn’t just a professional milestone—it was deeply personal.

LeBron’s passion for his children’s development has been evident throughout his career.

He’s coached Bronny in youth leagues and has been a constant presence in his basketball journey.

When his son suffered that cardiac arrest in 2023, LeBron and the family provided unwavering support, issuing statements and ensuring his recovery, underscoring their close bond.

LeBron’s dedication to his children was clear in moments like his acceptance speech at the 2023 ESPYs, where he thanked his three kids, including Bronny.

Given this background, it’s easier to understand why Stephen A. Smith’s comments touched such a raw nerve.

While Smith was technically criticizing LeBron’s decision-making as a father, he was also directly questioning something LeBron considered his greatest accomplishment.

But there’s another layer to this story that makes it even more complex.

 

 

Stephen A. Smith has a history with LeBron James that precedes this incident.

Their relationship hasn’t always been warm, with Smith often offering critical commentary about LeBron’s career decisions and on-court performance.

This existing tension meant that any comments about LeBron’s son would inevitably be interpreted through the lens of their already complicated dynamic.

Even as Stephen A. was criticizing LeBron’s approach with Bronny, he attempted to soften the blow by acknowledging LeBron’s qualities as a father.

“Great father, great husband, great philanthropist, great businessman, great actor, great producer, great director,” Smith said.

“How many times have I said that?”

But these qualifiers weren’t enough to prevent what would happen next.

The brewing tension soon boiled over in a public confrontation that neither man probably expected would become national news.

On March 6, 2025, during a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks, a viral video captured LeBron approaching Stephen A. Smith courtside with visible anger.

According to reports, LeBron told Smith, “Yo, you got to stop talking about my son. That’s my son.”

The confrontation happened in front of other celebrities and was witnessed by many in attendance.

The next day, Stephen A. Smith addressed the confrontation on First Take, acknowledging that he had been approached by LeBron but carefully framing his understanding of the situation.

“That wasn’t a basketball player confronting me,” Smith said.

 

 

“That was a parent. That was a father.”

“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.”

Smith went on to explain that he felt LeBron had misunderstood the intent behind his commentary.

“I would have said to LeBron James, ‘I never would speak negatively about your son. I was talking about you, meaning you, LeBron James.’”

“I have nothing but the best wishes for Bronny James. I wish him nothing but the best. I hope that he flourishes into an NBA star.”

But was this really about a misunderstanding?

Or was there something more fundamental at play—the intersection of sports commentary, parental protection, and the boundaries of public criticism?

As this story unfolded, fans and fellow athletes took sides.

Media personalities weighed in.

 

 

What began as commentary about a rookie’s NBA readiness evolved into a much larger conversation about media responsibility, parental devotion, and the sometimes blurry line between professional criticism and personal attack.

The stage was set for a feud that would continue to escalate, with both men using their considerable platforms to defend their positions.

And as we’ll see, this confrontation was just the beginning of a public back-and-forth that would reveal much about both men and the culture they operate within.