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[Saba Sports News] LeBron James had a heated confrontation with Stephen A. Smith during Thursday night’s game between the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers, and part of the exchange was caught on video by a fan.
A viral clip from early Friday morning showed a visibly frustrated LeBron speaking sternly to Smith during a break in play at Crypto.com Arena. While the exact reason for James’ anger remains unclear, speculation quickly spread.
Many lip-readers believe LeBron was upset over Smith’s criticism of his son, Bronny James. Some even suggested LeBron told Smith, “Keep my son out of this, bro.”
Smith, who recently signed a massive new contract with ESPN, has been outspoken about LeBron and the Lakers’ handling of Bronny. Like many others, he believes the younger James is not yet ready for the NBA. Bronny has split time between the NBA and the G League, with Smith arguing that he should exclusively play in the latter for now.
On-air, Smith has repeatedly highlighted Bronny’s struggles, reciting his stats to emphasize how out of place he looks at the NBA level. Earlier this year, he even mentioned that members of LeBron’s camp had been texting him in response to his commentary on Bronny’s situation.
Bronny has played just 76 total minutes for the Lakers this season, averaging 1.4 points, 0.4 rebounds, and 0.4 assists per game while shooting 25.8% from the field. In Tuesday’s win over the Pelicans, he played four minutes and shot 1-for-3 from the field.
If LeBron’s frustration stems from Smith’s critiques of Bronny, he may be overreacting. While Bronny has had some promising moments in the G League, he has struggled at the NBA level.
Smith’s job is to analyze the league, and the Bronny James story has been a major talking point. However, LeBron himself has amplified the situation by pushing for his son to get NBA exposure, even when he may not be ready.