LeBron-Stephen A feud -- dayum

fabiani12333 · 03-28-2025, 02:51 PM

As you all know, LeBron James recently confronted Stephen A Smith at a Lakers game over Smith publicly commenting on his son, Bronny. It has apparently set-off a full-blown public feud between the two. LeBron went on Pat McAfee's show two days ago and addressed the incident with Smith. He claimed Smith's comments on Bronny were personal in nature, requiring LeBron to come to his son's defense.

The next day, Smith went on First Take and called LeBron a liar for his claim that Smith's comment were personal, saying that he only criticized the hype surrounding Bronny and his poor performance on the court. Smith then proceeded to go full-on, old-school, WWF promo mode -- and it was glorious:

"He doesn't want a rebuttal. He doesn't want any pushback. He just wants to say what he said like he did courtside, and then depart -- but looks right up to the camera that's behind us -- that I never saw -- who was filming it all along. The man orchestrates stuff. The man will smile in your face, and he's got something behind his back -- ready to stab you with it. It's who he has been. It's who I have known him to be. It's why he doesn't like me -- because he knowns I know it. And it's certainly why I don't like him. But, it's not going to stop me from being professional at all times. America, the world, I work for ESPN. I will not dishonor this network. I will not dishonor this profession, by being unprofessional when it comes to somebody I don't like. Just because I don't like you as a person, doesn't mean I cannot appreciate your unquestionable, undeniable, unparalleled greatness. I know who LeBron James is and what he has meant to basketball. But I also know how he has alienated a lot of folks along the way. I'm not the only one. I'm just one of the few who is in a position to speak up about it -- the brother ain't scaring me. Ain't nobody shivering this way. I don't care what he feels or what he has to say. I stand by the things that I said. I have never, ever gone after somebody's family. And I would never do that. And he is creating this narrative because he can't accept the fact that I won't kiss the ring and acknowledge him as the greatest ever. Why? Because he is not. He had to learn to win.
...
I'm going to do my job. I'm going to call it like the hell I see it. And that's the way it has been. That is the way it is. And that is the way it is going to stay. Because bottom line -- last point is this -- the day he came up to me was the day my new contract was announced. So he knows like everybody else. It's goin' be a little while before I go away. I was here before he got here in 2003. In all likelihood, I'mma been here when he's gone. You've got to deal with that, bro -- plain and simple."

Molly Qerim: "Okay, we're 17 minutes in, so I'm actually going to go to break -- you're good, Stephen A?"

Stephen A: "I'm very good. Very good"

Molly: "I'm glad you're very good."

03-28-2025, 02:51 PM	#1
fabiani12333 Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Posts: 11,270	LeBron-Stephen A feud -- dayum As you all know, LeBron James recently confronted Stephen A Smith at a Lakers game over Smith publicly commenting on his son, Bronny. It has apparently set-off a full-blown public feud between the two. LeBron went on Pat McAfee's show two days ago and addressed the incident with Smith. He claimed Smith's comments on Bronny were personal in nature, requiring LeBron to come to his son's defense. The next day, Smith went on First Take and called LeBron a liar for his claim that Smith's comment were personal, saying that he only criticized the hype surrounding Bronny and his poor performance on the court. Smith then proceeded to go full-on, old-school, WWF promo mode -- and it was glorious: "He doesn't want a rebuttal. He doesn't want any pushback. He just wants to say what he said like he did courtside, and then depart -- but looks right up to the camera that's behind us -- that I never saw -- who was filming it all along. The man orchestrates stuff. The man will smile in your face, and he's got something behind his back -- ready to stab you with it. It's who he has been. It's who I have known him to be. It's why he doesn't like me -- because he knowns I know it. And it's certainly why I don't like him. But, it's not going to stop me from being professional at all times. America, the world, I work for ESPN. I will not dishonor this network. I will not dishonor this profession, by being unprofessional when it comes to somebody I don't like. Just because I don't like you as a person, doesn't mean I cannot appreciate your unquestionable, undeniable, unparalleled greatness. I know who LeBron James is and what he has meant to basketball. But I also know how he has alienated a lot of folks along the way. I'm not the only one. I'm just one of the few who is in a position to speak up about it -- the brother ain't scaring me. Ain't nobody shivering this way. I don't care what he feels or what he has to say. I stand by the things that I said. I have never, ever gone after somebody's family. And I would never do that. And he is creating this narrative because he can't accept the fact that I won't kiss the ring and acknowledge him as the greatest ever. Why? Because he is not. He had to learn to win. ... I'm going to do my job. I'm going to call it like the hell I see it. And that's the way it has been. That is the way it is. And that is the way it is going to stay. Because bottom line -- last point is this -- the day he came up to me was the day my new contract was announced. So he knows like everybody else. It's goin' be a little while before I go away. I was here before he got here in 2003. In all likelihood, I'mma been here when he's gone. You've got to deal with that, bro -- plain and simple." Molly Qerim: "Okay, we're 17 minutes in, so I'm actually going to go to break -- you're good, Stephen A?" Stephen A: "I'm very good. Very good" Molly: "I'm glad you're very good."