Movies

Stephen A. Smith says LeBron James confronted him as ‘a daddy’ — not star player — over Bronny comments

BBG News

It’s common wisdom that sometimes the most effective defense is taking the initiative. On Thursday night, LeBron James chose this strategy when he directly addressed Stephen A. Smith at a Lakers game, reprimanding him firmly to cease discussing Bronny James, his son and teammate.

On Friday morning, Smith, who is said to have consented to a five-year, $100-million deal to extend his long-standing association with ESPN, began the day’s “First Take” program by offering a muted explanation for LeBron James’ displeasure with him.

First, though, he confirmed the topic James addressed.

LeBron James unexpectedly approached me to discuss my comments about his son,” Smith stated. “Unfortunately, the language he used cannot be repeated as it is not suitable for broadcasting.

Smith wondered why James decided to confront him during the Crypto.com Arena game, where the Lakers edged out the New York Knicks in overtime, instead of opting for a more private conversation via phone call or in person. He pointed out that he understood James was expressing himself not just as a renowned basketball player, but also as a father figure.

Lakers

In overtime, it’s Luka Doncic who initiates the scoring streak, ending up with an impressive total of 32 points. This performance significantly contributes to the Lakers’ exciting 113-109 victory over the Knicks in a tight match.

However, Smith emphasized that his initial critique targeted LeBron, not Bronny. In essence, he stated that he was referring to the situation Bronny found himself in due to his father.

Prior to Bronny being drafted by the Lakers in June, it was well-known that LeBron expressed a desire for his son to join him on the team. This sentiment sparked speculation among many journalists, who felt that the partnership might have been orchestrated and could potentially burden the young player, who had limited experience beyond high school basketball, having played only 25 games as a role player at USC.

In his own words, Bronny didn’t share the same level of excitement. At the NBA scouting combine a month prior to the draft, he mentioned, “My dream has consistently been about putting my name out there, establishing myself, and, naturally, getting to the NBA… I never imagined just playing alongside my dad, but of course, he’s mentioned it a few times.

Smith expressed his feelings about LeBron’s attempts to get Bronny drafted alongside him by stating, “Look here, buddy, this is a tough spot you’re putting him in.” This conveys the same meaning while sounding more conversational and easy to understand.

Bill Plaschke, a columnist for The Times, raised similar questions when the Lakers selected Bronny as their second-round pick: “Is it appropriate to subject him to such pressure? Is it fair to expect him to grow and hone his skills while sharing a bench with a legendary player who also happens to be his father, widely regarded as one of the greatest in history?

Lakers

In simpler terms, LeBron James shared that among all his achievements, including his four NBA titles, playing alongside his son Bronny on the Lakers might be his greatest personal accomplishment, according to his conversation with Jason and Travis Kelce.

On October 22nd, during the Lakers’ opening match, a long-awaited instance unfolded as LeBron’s son, Bronny, entered the game in the second quarter. Although they only played for a brief period (less than three minutes) and Bronny missed his first two shots in the NBA, they made history by being the initial father-son pair to play an NBA game together.

Over a span of 18 matches, Bronny has managed to score 25 points within 76 minutes, which equates to making approximately one out of every four shots (25.8%). However, his performance significantly improves in the G League, where he averages 13.4 points per game, along with 3.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists. Additionally, he’s been playing commendable defense in these matches.

Smith expressed only positive sentiments towards Bronny James, wishing him success and hoping he becomes a stellar player in the NBA.

In the game, Smith found himself seated alongside Ari Emanuel, CEO of Endeavor, and actor Larry David. He noted that James appeared “extremely agitated,” and opted not to engage further in this public arena.

Smith mentioned that he and James seem to have different perspectives on things. They simply don’t agree on many issues. Neither of them seems particularly bothered by this discrepancy, as it has been a long-standing issue. It felt like James was asking Smith to keep their differences private.

As a parent, I understand. In his situation, I can’t guarantee I wouldn’t have acted similarly. Absolutely, I hold no judgment against him whatsoever.

Sports

The significant fact that LeBron James reached 50,000 career points in the NBA for the first time serves as another avenue to admire his consistent greatness.

Smith ended his remarks by stating that although he understood LeBron’s defense of his son, he remained firm in his criticism made during the broadcast.

Smith stated that his comments about LeBron were grounded in facts, as evidenced by LeBron’s own words and the events leading up to his son being drafted onto the same team with him. He emphasized that there is no avoiding this truth. As a journalist, he aims for objectivity rather than creating enemies, but his job doesn’t involve making friends; instead, he must report facts as they are observed.

Read More

2025-03-07 22:31

Previous post R&B Legend D’Wayne Wiggins Passes Away at 64 After Brave Cancer Battle
Next post Why did Mark Wahlberg leave New Kids on the Block?