Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James and ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith appeared to have a heated courtside exchange during the Lakers’ game against the New York Knicks on Thursday, March 6.
Though the video was brief, a possibly frustrated James was seen interacting with Smith before walking away.
The clip quickly went viral.
LeBron James Seemingly Curses at Stephen A. Smith During Heated Courtside Exchange
While not all words were clear, James reportedly cursed at the NBA analyst, saying:
“Keep my son out of this sh*t.”
LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith sharing some words after the game tonight
Looks like Bron’s telling him “keep my son out of this sh**.” 👀
(h/t @LADEIG, via @legendofwinning) pic.twitter.com/QyOBAWO0p1
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) March 7, 2025
Fans shared the video widely, with many siding with Smith. Some argued that Bronny James, who also plays for the Lakers, is a professional athlete and should be able to handle analysts’ criticism himself.
James, on the other hand, called out Smith and the media earlier this week. The four-time NBA champion was upset with how the media was “sh*tting” on the game.
Smith responded on ESPN’s First Take, saying:
“That’s some B.S. I’m gonna call it like I see it. This is straight B.S. I don’t appreciate what he said.”
Smith, who recently signed a $100 million deal with ESPN, insisted he loves the NBA and will continue to support the game in his own way. Known for his candid takes, Smith has never shied away from voicing his opinions about the league or its players.
“We know he talking about people like me. Damn it I’m going to say it, I’m going to be cocky enough to say I’m one of the people he alluded to. That’s nonsense! I challenge anybody to show somebody who loves the NBA and supports the NBA more than me.”
Their back-and-forth has been brewing for weeks.
Smith Called Out James’ Parenting After Bronny’s Debut Game
Though neither James nor Smith has directly confirmed it, their feud escalated after Smith’s comments about Bronny’s performance during the Lakers’ 118-104 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers.
“I am pleading with LeBron James as a father, stop this. Stop this. We all know Bronny James is in the NBA because of his dad,” Smith said on First Take in February.
“We love what we’re seeing from (Bronny James) in the G League, because that’s where you belong as you hone your skills and you get better… He’s LeBron James’ son and everybody knows what attention that brings.”
"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
A few days later, Smith addressed his comments, revealing that people close to James had texted him about it. The 57-year-old stood by his opinion, referring to James’ sensitivity as “beyond appeal.”
Bronny, a former standout at Sierra Canyon School, is currently averaging 1.4 points, 0.4 assists, and 0.4 rebounds per game (at the NBA level). His father, now in his 22nd NBA season, is averaging 24.9 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 8.5 assists per game.