Stephen A. Smith’s longstanding dislike for LeBron James was evident during a recent appearance on Carmelo Anthony’s podcast, “7pm in Brooklyn.” Despite Anthony’s close ties with the Los Angeles Lakers star, Smith didn’t hold back his feelings.
When questioned about his relationship with James, Smith revealed that their ongoing feud stretches back to the early 2010s. “I really don’t like him, not even a little bit,” Smith shared. “I understand what he means to Melo, to D-Wade, and my other friends. But let me make it clear, Melo is absolutely right about this. Our issues go back over a decade.”
Smith elaborated, saying, “I’m not going to delve into the details of what he’s tried to do to me. People just don’t get it. You don’t understand the lengths he would go to. Publicly, he’s one person, but privately, he’s entirely different.”
When asked if James had attempted to have him removed from television, Smith replied, “I’m not going down that path, figure it out yourself. I’m not going to put myself in a position where things might get even uglier.”
The tension between James and Smith came to a head last March during a game between the Lakers and the New York Knicks, where Smith was present. During the third quarter, James was seen confronting Smith about his critical remarks regarding James’ teammate and son, Bronny James.
The James-Smith famously erupted back in March when the Lakers hosted the New York Knicks with Smith on hand. It was during the third quarter of that game where James was caught confronting Smith over the ESPN host’s criticism of his own teammate and son, Bronny James.
Stephen A. Smith’s disdain for LeBron James didn’t waver when speaking the Los Angeles Lakers star’s friend and former teammate, Carmelo Anthony
James and Anthony are long-time friends, which Smith said he understands and respects
‘The day that he rolled up on me courtside, it was the day my contract was announced that I had stayed with ESPN,’ Smith said. ‘Go back and look at the camera angles. I arrived there in the first quarter. He rolled up on me in the third quarter.’
Smith then suggested that the moment was somehow staged by James.
‘How is it we got one angle and the only angle you see was of him in his face, but you see the back of my peanut head?’ Smith asked, eliciting a laugh from his hosts. ‘Remember, I’m in this business.’
The bigger issue to Smith wasn’t the confrontation, but James’ decision to discuss the feud on ESPN with Pat McAfee, the show that follows his own.
‘The last straw was not him rolling up on me courtside,’ Smith said. ‘You’re gonna turn around and come on ESPN with Pat McAfee? You’re gonna come on my channel, on the show that comes on after me, just to dog me?’
‘”I have to protect my family,” that’s the narrative you playing?’ Smith continued. ‘When I tell y’all, you can’t measure the level of how pissed off I have been over that. There is no level of disrespect that has been accorded to me in my life for what he did. … To try to paint me as somebody who would attack somebody’s family, knowing I’ve never done it? I can’t tell you how offensive I find that.’
Smith’s latest attacks on James come just days after similar comments on Ryan Clark’s podcast, when he suggested the Lakers star’s treatment of media is determined by race.
‘You ever see LeBron go at a white boy? Let’s call it what it is. You ever see him do that? You’ll say you saw him come at me,’ Smith said.
‘Anybody with professional ethics, who knows sports and knows what comes with it knows that I did not do anything wrong to that young man. But to paint me as somebody that would attack a child, just because I dislike you, it’s low, it’s low,’ Smith said.
Cameras caught the NBA star having a heated exchange with Smith at a March 6 Lakers game
Smith has been critical of the Lakers’ use of Bronny James (right), LeBron’s son and teammate
Smith did acknowledge that James had also previously criticized Brian Windhorst, who has followed his basketball career since high school.
‘You saw him come at me. Closest you ever came to seeing him do something like that [to a white journalist] was when he called out Brian Windhorst,’ Smith continued.
‘What you calling out Brian Windhorst for? The man covered you since junior high school and has praised you repeatedly and you used the Pat McAfee situation to go at him. [T]hat’s the only time you ever seen LeBron James really go at somebody white. I’m going to call it what it is.’
He once again defended his comments on Bronny’s games as he maintained that James Sr was in the wrong.
‘LeBron was wrong, and he will forever be wrong,’ said Smith. ‘And as far as I’m concerned, anybody in this business or anybody that wants to be in this business, especially these athletes with their podcast that don’t see it, well, just consider yourself blind or unethical.
‘Because anybody with professional ethics who knows sports and knows what comes with it, knows I did not do anything wrong to that young man. But to paint me as somebody that would attack a child just because I dislike you. It’s low. It’s low. And that’s what it is, and that’s where it’s going to stay.’
It wasn’t the first time that Smith has continued their war of words. The ESPN star previously accused the Lakers star of being a ‘liar’ and a ‘bully’. He even claimed: ‘Had that man put his hands on me, I would have immediately swung on him’
The Lakers open their season Tuesday at home against the rival Golden State Warriors.
