During last week's Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York Knicks matchup, LeBron James was seen confronting ESPN TV personality Stephen A. Smith courtside.
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Damn LeBron stepped to Stephen A Smith👀👀👀 pic.twitter.com/ZJIDcPU4dL
— LegendOfWinning (@LegendOfWinning) March 7, 2025
In view of what was said in viral video clip, fans attempted to dissect the dialogue between LeBron and Stephen A., "I'MMA TELL YOU ONE TIME, BRO. KEEP MY SON OUT OF THIS ****, BRO."
And now on the latest episode of Gilbert Arenas' show, Gil's Arena, Stephen A. actually addressed this "hostile confrontation."
Stephen A. Smith gives his unfiltered version of the LeBron confrontation 👀 pic.twitter.com/X4TOV3155a
— Gilbert Arenas (@GilsArenaShow) March 11, 2025
"I thought it was weak, I thought it was some bulls***," Smith said. "But in the moment I knew I was listening to a father."
He then narrated what LeBron actually said to him during that timeout break in the third quarter, "Yo you gotta stop talking s*** about my son, you gotta stop f***ing with my son. That's my son, that's my son."
Stephen A. then defended himself, "I wasn't talking about your son... I'm talking about YOUR A**... all of us as reporters, as a league... had to sit back and be quiet and capitulate to YOUR S***. YOU DID THAT!"
"I wasn't talking about your son I'm talking about you," he continued. "I know he's the 55th pick... You're putting him [Bronny] under such a microscope, and it's going to be too much to overcome, give him a chance."
With this in mind, ahead of Sunday's game vs. the Celtics, LeBron was overheard talking to former NBA teammate/ESPN commentator Richard Jefferson about this whole situation.
LeBron overheard talking about Stephen A. Smith
“Once he talks about, ‘I’m pleading to you as a father,’ I can’t”pic.twitter.com/HRgrT8IUDx
— Lakers Daily (@LakersDailyCom) March 10, 2025
Mics picked up LeBron telling Jefferson, "Once he [Stephen A.] talks about, 'I'm pleading to you as a father,' I can't."
"I am pleading with LeBron James, as a father. Stop this." 😳 @stephenasmith reacts to Bronny James' play in the Lakers 118-104 loss to the 76ers. pic.twitter.com/bk5D0DS42N
— First Take (@FirstTake) January 29, 2025
In response to this, Stephen A. on Gil's show defended his previous remarks, "The only reason I said 'as a dad,' is because you marketed yourself as his dad to help him get into the league."
Stephen A. then pointed his finger at former 2000 No. 1 overall pick Kenyon Martin, 'You didn't do that.'
He continued to list off other NBA fathers, "Melo didn't do that, or hasn't yet and I know he wouldn't... D-Wade, Tim Hardaway Sr., Rick Barry, none of them did that. He is the only one."
"I know your intentions are honorable, but there are vultures out here, and they are going to come for him."
Other former NBA stars, such as Gilbert Arenas himself, have spoken out against LeBron stepping to the ESPN host publicly.
"LeBron James if you do that s*** again with my potential boss, all h*** gonna break lose... Don't you ever in your life walk up on a $100 million man."
Gil got smoke for LeBron after confronting Stephen A. Smith ☠️😂 pic.twitter.com/gvqjbcNJ8Z
— Gilbert Arenas (@GilsArenaShow) March 10, 2025
