During Thursday’s matchup against the New York Knicks at Crypto.com Arena, James confronted the Stephen A. Smith over criticism directed at his son, Bronny James.
Smith had previously made harsh remarks about the young player, which seemingly didn’t sit well with LeBron.
Addressing the incident on his show, Smith acknowledged James’ frustration, admitting that the Lakers star was visibly “angry” and had bluntly told him, “That’s my son. Stop effin’ with my son.”
A Lighter Moment with Richard Jefferson
The Lakers hit the court again on Saturday, facing off against the Boston Celtics, and this time, the four-time NBA champion was in a much lighter mood.
Before the game at TD Garden, LeBron James shared a moment with his former Cleveland Cavaliers teammate, Richard Jefferson, who now works as an ESPN analyst.
Shortly after, an audio recording of their conversation surfaced online and quickly began spreading across social media. While the clarity of the recording is questionable, some popular X accounts speculate that James was addressing his recent confrontation with Jefferson’s ESPN colleague, Stephen A. Smith.
“You know that’s the only thing messing with me,” James seemingly told Jefferson. “… But once he says, ‘I’m pleading with you as a father,’ I just can’t.”
Smith’s Past Criticism of Bronny James
Back in January, following the Lakers’ tough loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, Smith took aim at both LeBron and Bronny, questioning the young player’s performance.
He argued that Bronny hadn’t lived up to expectations and suggested that his NBA opportunity was solely due to his father’s influence.
“I am pleading with LeBron James as a father: stop this. Stop this,” Smith had said. “We all know that Bronny James is in the NBA because of his dad.”
Meanwhile, LeBron James is now facing a setback, as he is expected to be sidelined for a significant stretch due to a groin strain.
He sustained the injury during Saturday’s 111-101 defeat against the Boston Celtics. According to NBA insider Shams Charania, James is projected to miss between one to two weeks as he recovers.
