LeBron James‘ courtside confrontation with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has sparked outrage, with Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy weighing in on the controversy.
Portnoy didn’t hold back in his scathing critique, blasting LeBron for his handling of Bronny‘s entry into the NBA and questioning the double standard in media coverage.
The exchange between LeBron and Smith, which took place before the Lakers‘ win over the Knicks, centered around Smith‘s past comments regarding Bronny‘s NBA legitimacy. James reportedly confronted Smith over criticism of his son, leading to a heated discussion that became one of the biggest talking points in sports media.
Portnoy Calls Out LeBron’s Hypocrisy
In a fiery rant posted to social media, Portnoy slammed LeBron’s reaction, calling it “one of the most ridiculous controversies in the history of civilization.” He argued that Bronny, as a professional player in the NBA, should not be immune from criticism.
“LeBron doesn’t want Stephen A., the media, or whoever talking about Bronny, who is a professional basketball player on one of the most storied franchises in the league,” Portnoy said. “What are we talking about here?”
Portnoy also brought up a 2018 interview in which LeBron admitted regretting naming his son after himself due to the pressure it would bring. He then blasted James for allegedly forcing the Lakers to draft Bronny despite his struggles at USC.
“Then he forces the Lakers to draft this kid in the NBA before he’s ready,” Portnoy continued. “He didn’t even start at USC! Now he’s in a big boy league playing against big boy players, and he stinks. And LeBron doesn’t want the media to talk about it?”
Portnoy Criticizes Stephen A. Smith’s Soft Stance
While Smith defended his past remarks by claiming he was criticizing LeBron‘s decision to push Bronny into the league, not the player himself, Portnoy wasn’t buying it. He called out Smith for softening his stance and treating LeBron with “kid gloves” on First Take.
“Stephen A. with kid gloves today,” Portnoy said. “If that’s anyone else, he’s ripping them apart.”
Portnoy ended his rant with a brutal comparison, arguing that Jayson Tatum‘s 7-year-old son, Deuce, is more valuable to the Celtics than Bronny is to the Lakers.
“If you don’t want the media to talk about how your son is overmatched and looks like a Make-A-Wish, then don’t force him onto the team,” Portnoy said. “Let him go to the G-League. Let him go to college. Let him earn it.”
The controversy continues to fuel debate about LeBron‘s influence in the NBA and whether Bronny was drafted based on merit or favoritism.
Regardless, one thing is clear-this story isn’t going away anytime soon.
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