The Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James beef is currently at an all-time high, as both have went on the internet to exchange jabs at one another following their courtside confrontation earlier this month.
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That is, Smith, 57, has expressed his desire to throw actual punches at James, 40.
Stephen A Smith says he would’ve swung on LeBron
“If that man would’ve put his hands on me. I would’ve immediately swung on him. Immediately.”
(h/t @gifdsports )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 26, 2025
And the NBA's all-time leading scorer responded by trolling the outspoken ESPN analyst, posting an old clip of him sparring.
LeBron captioned it: "WHOMP WHOMP WHOMPPPPPPPP."
LEBRON POSTED THE STEPHEN A BOXING CLIP ON HIS IG LMFAOOOOOOOOOO pic.twitter.com/enNveHgP0i
— 🎭 (@MaskedInLA) March 27, 2025
Evidently, Smith didn't think this was funny, as on Thursday's episode of First Take he went on a 17-minute long rant.
Stephen A. Smith responds to LeBron’s IG post:
“That's how petty you've become?... When has LeBron ever done something like that?... This man is in his feelings. I wonder why? Could it be because I don't believe you're the GOAT?”
(via @FirstTake)pic.twitter.com/6SJG5C4qIS
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) March 27, 2025
He even seemed to take personal shots at LeBron.
"I never brought up really, and never really discussed why you were not at Kobe Bryant's memorial service. I never really brought up or discussed why you did not attend Dwyane Wade's Hall of Fame induction."
“I never brought up really & never really discussed why you were not at Kobe Bryant's memorial service.”
— Stephen A. Smith on LeBron 😳
(h/t @ClutchPoints)pic.twitter.com/iJUkBQRV1j
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) March 27, 2025
Considering this claim, some are calling it a lie, as there are conflicting reports LeBron was present at Kobe's memorial but asked to be off camera.
My apologies and clarification. I misspoke in Hour#1 of @FirstTake today when I intimated that LeBron did not attend Kobe Bryant’s memorial. I corrected myself in Hour#2 when I acknowledged he was indeed in attendance. My mistake. Should not have even broached that subject. It…
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) March 27, 2025
Then in view of LeBron being absent from former running mate D-Wade's HOF induction, this was around the time Bronny had the cardiac arrest scare.
Either way, it appears that Stephen A. is exactly proving LeBron's point about making things 'personal,' as this whole fiasco started with the comments made about the first ever NBA father-son duo.
"I'm pleading with LeBron James as a father, Stop this! Stop this!" Stephen A. said earlier this year about Bronny being in the NBA.
“I don’t care bro… keep my son out this shit”
- LeBron told Stephen A to watch his mouth😭
(via @legendz_nba)
— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) March 7, 2025
"He's like on a Taylor Swift tour run right now. ... If it's one person that couldn't wait for the video to drop so you could address it, it's your ass.“
- LeBron goes after Stephen A. 🍿pic.twitter.com/vtWcPOAjN5
— Lakers Daily (@LakersDailyCom) March 26, 2025
If the 6-foot-1 journalist and 6-foot-9 basketball superstar ever do step into the ring, bookmakers already have set their lines with LeBron James being the heavy favorite (-5000) over Stephen A. Smith (+1000).
Related: LeBron James Trolls Stephen A. Smith In Latest 'Tell All' Podcast Interview
