NBA news: Stephen A. Smith calls LeBron James’ confrontation ‘weak’ amid Bronny James controversy

Sports News Blitz's Noah Ngcobo dives into the latest NBA drama, where media criticism and family loyalty collide.

A courtside showdown

The ongoing tension between ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith and Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James reached a boiling point last week, with Smith openly calling James’ response to his commentary on Bronny James “weak” and “some bullsh*t”.

The heated exchange took place courtside at Crypto.com Arena on March 6, during the LA Lakers’ match-up against the New York Knicks.

James, frustrated with Smith’s previous remarks regarding his son, approached the sports pundit during a timeout and demanded he stop discussing Bronny in a critical light.

The moment quickly went viral, sparking widespread debate in the sports world.

LeBron’s fatherly defense

According to Smith, James confronted him face-to-face, saying, “Yo, you gotta stop talking sh*t about my son. You gotta stop f**king with my son. That’s my son!”

The NBA veteran was visibly upset, defending Bronny with the passion of a protective father rather than a professional athlete dealing with media scrutiny.

Smith later addressed the altercation on ESPN’s First Take, initially showing understanding toward James' reaction.

“That wasn’t a basketball player confronting me, that was a father,” Smith admitted. “I can’t sit here and be angry or feel slighted by LeBron James in that regard.”

However, Smith’s stance hardened during an appearance on Gil’s Arena, where he doubled down on his critique of James’ approach.

“I thought it was weak, I thought it was some bullsh*t,” he said, suggesting that James misrepresented the nature of his criticism.

Dwyane Wade backs LeBron

Not everyone saw an issue with James’ reaction.

Former NBA star and longtime friend Dwyane Wade defended LeBron’s actions, saying that he would have handled the situation the same way.

Wade emphasised that LeBron’s reaction was justified as a father protecting his son, and he expressed no problem with how Smith was confronted.

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The Richard Jefferson factor

The saga took another twist when a separate video surfaced showing LeBron discussing the confrontation with former team-mate Richard Jefferson before a game against the Boston Celtics.

James appeared to brush off Smith’s argument, stating, “Once he talks about, ‘I’m pleading [with] you as a father,’ I can’t.”

Smith took offense to this framing of the incident, arguing that he was never attacking Bronny but rather critiquing LeBron’s push for his son to be drafted straight into the NBA despite questions about his readiness.

“I was talking about him as a father,” Smith clarified. “Had he said that to me, I wouldn’t have been thrown off. I would’ve come right back at him - ‘Yes, I was talking about you, you did this sh*t.’”

A war of words that won’t end soon

The tension between Smith and James is nothing new, as both figures have clashed on multiple occasions regarding media criticism of NBA players.

This latest dispute, however, cuts deeper, as it involves not just basketball but personal family matters.

With Bronny James in the early stages of his professional career, and LeBron James as vocal as ever, this conflict doesn’t seem likely to disappear anytime soon.

Whether the two will find common ground or continue their back-and-forth remains to be seen, but one thing is certain - both men have no problem speaking their minds.

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