The long-running tension between Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James has been a topic of conversation for months, but the outspoken ESPN analyst is now offering his most candid explanation yet.
During an appearance on Carmelo Anthony‘s “7PM in Brooklyn” podcast, Smith addressed the root of their feud and made it clear that his respect for LeBron‘s family, especially Savannah James and Gloria James, has always guided his words.
When asked directly about his issues with LeBron, Smith didn’t hold back. He made it clear that while their relationship has become strained, his admiration for LeBron‘s family remains unchanged.
“I happen to think that Savannah is the first lady of basketball,” Smith said. “I think she’s wonderful. She’s just a wonderful, wonderful human being, and it actually breaks my heart that I could have done anything to make her upset. I call with Gloria, his mom, who has always been wonderful to me, wonderful people. I got nothing to say about them, I got nothing to say about Bronny, who I think could be an NBA player someday.”
According to Smith, that respect is exactly why he tries to avoid speaking about Bronny James, even as the young guard’s basketball career continues to gain attention. He explained that his admiration for Savannah and Gloria makes him especially careful about how he covers the James family.
But when it comes to LeBron himself, Smith revealed that their professional relationship has seen some serious friction. He claimed that the four-time NBA champion has tried to get him removed from ESPN multiple times, and the tension only worsened after LeBron‘s recent appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show.”
Smith explains what pushed him over the edge
During the interview, Smith described LeBron‘s decision to appear on McAfee‘s program as a personal slight.
“You going to turn around and come on ESPN with Pat McAfee?” Smith said.
“White boy who comes on after ‘First Take‘ on the channel that I’ve worked on and start on? I have the number one show for 13 straight years and counting. There ain’t a day, there ain’t a week, ain’t a month I’ve lost. You going to come on my channel, on a show that comes on after me just to dog me? … What you dogging me about? Be a man.”
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