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March 6 Confrontation |
Stephen A. Smith’s fiery reaction to his courtside confrontation with LeBron James during the Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the New York Knicks on Thursday, March 6, 2025, has sparked more attention.
The incident, which unfolded after the Lakers’ 113-109 overtime victory at Crypto.com Arena, saw James approach Smith during a timeout in the third quarter, visibly upset. Smith later elaborated on this tense exchange during a nearly two-and-a-half-hour appearance on Gil’s Arena, a popular basketball podcast hosted by former NBA player Gilbert Arenas, on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. His comments, including the blunt declaration, “I thought it was some bulls–t,” reflect a shift from his initial measured response on ESPN’s First Take to a more unfiltered critique of James’ actions.
The confrontation stemmed from Smith’s ongoing commentary about LeBron’s son, Bronny James, a rookie with the Lakers who has faced scrutiny over his NBA readiness. During the Lakers-Knicks game, James approached Smith, who was seated courtside with his agency-provided tickets from WME, and reportedly said, “Yo, you gotta stop talking s–t about my son [Bronny]. You gotta stop f–king with my son. That’s my son, that’s my son!” followed by, “I’MMA TELL YOU ONE TIME, BRO. KEEP MY SON OUT OF THIS S–T, BRO.” Smith recounted that he suggested they discuss it post-game, but James declined and reiterated his demand before returning to the court. Smith noted seeing Bronny with a “sad look on his face” earlier in the game, hinting at the emotional undercurrent of James’ outburst.
On First Take the following morning, Friday, March 7, Smith initially framed the encounter with empathy, saying, “That wasn’t a basketball player confronting me. That was a parent, that was a father,” and expressing understanding for James’ protective instincts. However, by the time Smith appeared on Gil’s Arena, his tone had hardened.
He called the confrontation “weak” and “bulls–t,” arguing that James could have addressed the issue privately since his agent, Rich Paul, and associate, Maverick Carter, have Smith’s contact information. “I wasn’t talking about your son…I’m talking about your ass,” Smith emphasized, redirecting his frustration at LeBron’s public approach and perceived attempts to shield Bronny from fair analysis.
During the Gil’s Arena discussion, Smith expanded on his perspective as an analyst, asserting that Bronny’s presence in the NBA, particularly alongside his father, invites scrutiny. He cited Bronny’s scoreless performance against the Philadelphia 76ers in late January as a turning point where he felt compelled to cover the story critically, despite giving Bronny “the most grace” previously. Smith argued that LeBron’s influence—evident in statements like “Whatever Bronny is at, that’s where I’ll be” from February 2024—put Bronny in a challenging position, amplifying media attention. “All of us as reporters, as a league… had to sit back and be quiet and capitulate to your s–t, you did that!” Smith blasted, suggesting James leverages his stature to deflect criticism.
"I thought it was weak." 😳
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 11, 2025
- Stephen A. Smith on LeBron confronting him
(🎥 @GilsArenaShow / @UnderdogFantasy )
pic.twitter.com/JCnQusNTxM
The Gil’s Arena episode, featuring Arenas alongside former NBA players like Rashad McCants and Nick “Swaggy P” Young, provided a looser platform than ESPN, allowing Smith to vent unfiltered. He expressed frustration at accusations of “hating on brothers,” highlighting his advocacy for HBCUs and diversity at ESPN, and positioned the confrontation as a misuse of James’ platform.
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