ESPN analyst and former NFL player Ryan Clark shared his thoughts on LeBron James’ courtside confrontation with Stephen A. Smith.
The courtside incident during a Lakers-Knicks game sparked debate, with LeBron confronting Smith over past remarks about Bronny. Reactions were mixed—some backed LeBron, while others saw it as an overreaction. Smith defended his comments, suggesting LeBron should have handled it differently.
Clark acknowledged LeBron’s instinct to protect his son but questioned whether confronting Smith publicly was the right approach. He argued that it only reinforces the perception that Bronny is being shielded from fair criticism in the NBA.
Ryan Clark Sides with Stephen A. Smith
As the discussion continues, Clark has backed Smith, arguing that LeBron blurred the line between being a father and allowing his son to stand on his own as an athlete.
“He was drafted in a place he wasn’t supposed to be because of you. And now we can’t even talk about him? Imagine if LaVar Ball or Tee Morant ran up on Stephen A.—people would call them classless and immature.”
Clark acknowledges that LeBron’s reaction came from a place of love, but he believes Bronny should be allowed to navigate his career independently. He also pointed out that Bronny has benefited from opportunities beyond what his resume might suggest, largely due to his father’s influence.
“He’s benefited in marketing, commercials, and publicity more than others who have performed better in the G-League,” Clark said.
LeBron Confronts Stephen A. Smith Over Bronny Criticism
During the Lakers’ matchup against the Knicks, LeBron approached Smith courtside to address his criticism of Bronny.
LeBron, clearly frustrated, reportedly told Smith, “That’s my son. Stop effin’ with my son.”
This confrontation stemmed from comments Smith made back in January after a Lakers loss to the 76ers. At the time, Smith openly questioned Bronny’s NBA readiness and urged LeBron to stop pushing the narrative.
Is LeBron James Selectively Defending Bronny?
Clark also questioned why LeBron chose to challenge Stephen A. publicly but never addressed years of criticism from others, like Skip Bayless.
“You didn’t run up on Skip all those years he talked about you. You didn’t run up on anyone else. If you’re going to confront every person who says Bronny didn’t deserve to be drafted, you’ll be fighting forever.”
Clark believes LeBron’s main goal was to send a message—not just to Smith, but also to Bronny and the public.
“LeBron wanted to show Stephen A., and more importantly, show Bronny, ‘I’ve got your back, and I’ll do it publicly so everyone sees it.’”
However, Clark warns that this approach could backfire. By stepping in so publicly, LeBron may be reinforcing the idea that Bronny is only in the NBA because of him, rather than letting his son prove himself on his own.
