BOMBSHELL: LeBron James shares his side of Stephen A. Smith confrontation.

The altercation occurred during the Los Angeles Lakers’ 113-109 victory over the New York Knicks on March 6, 2025. During a timeout, James approached Smith to express his displeasure regarding comments Smith had made about his son, Bronny James. Smith had previously suggested that Bronny’s presence in the NBA was primarily due to his father’s influence, a remark that did not sit well with LeBron.​

Speaking with Pat McAfee, James criticized Smith for his handling of the situation, likening his media response to a “Taylor Swift tour run.” He remarked, “It started off with, ‘I didn’t want to address it… but since the video came out I feel the need to address.’ You couldn’t wait till the video comes out so you can address it.” ​

LeBron emphasized that his issue was not with basketball-related criticism but with personal attacks. He stated, “Never would I ever not allow people to talk about the sport, criticize players about what they do on the court. That is your job to criticize… That is all part of the game. But when you take it and when you get personal with it, it’s my job to not only protect my damn household but protect the players.” ​

The Lakers are scheduled to play against the Indiana Pacers on March 26, 2025, at 4:30 PM PDT. Fans and analysts will undoubtedly be watching to see if this off-court drama impacts James’s performance on the court.