Stephen A. Smith Confirms Heated Courtside Exchange with LeBron James Over Bronny Criticism [Video]

Stephen A. Smith confirmed that LeBron James confronted him after the Los Angeles Lakers’ game on Thursday night, following a viral video showing James appearing visibly frustrated during a courtside exchange with the ESPN analyst.

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Addressing the situation on Friday’s episode of First Take, Smith explained that James approached him unexpectedly to express frustration over his comments about Bronny James’ NBA career. Smith has been critical of how Bronny entered the league, repeatedly arguing that the young guard’s spot on the Lakers roster is solely due to his father’s influence.

“That was LeBron James coming up to me, unexpectedly I might add, to confront me about making sure I mind what I say about his son,” Smith told host Molly Qerim. “I can’t repeat the words because they aren’t suited for FCC airwaves. That’s what he was doing.”

“That wasn’t a basketball player confronting me,” Smith continued. “That was a parent. That was a father.”

James briefly approached Smith after the Lakers’ 113-109 win over the New York Knicks at Crypto.com Arena, speaking to him briefly before walking away with a scowl. Smith said he was sitting courtside with Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel and Larry David when James came over. The exchange occurred hours after reports surfaced that Smith had signed a $100-million contract extension with ESPN.

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Smith previously said that James’ representatives at Klutch Sports had already reached out to him regarding his criticism of Bronny, after he called on James to “Stop this”, saying that “we all know Bronny James is in the NBA because of his dad.”

Bronny, who has played limited minutes in 18 appearances as a rookie, has also spent time with the Lakers’ G League team. Smith acknowledged on Friday that he and LeBron James have not had a good relationship for years, but insisted that “neither of us lose sleep over it.”

While Smith stood by his original comments, he admitted he understood why James was upset.

“I wasn’t talking about Bronny. I was really talking about [LeBron] because of the position that Bronny was in,” Smith said. “But I really understood where he was coming from. He was very, very upset. I could tell. He could have called me. I’d have come to see him. I’d have had a conversation with him.”

Smith said he wasn’t offended by the exchange, though he would have preferred a private conversation instead of a public confrontation at the game.

“I had no idea everybody saw it until I woke up this morning, but it is what it is,” Smith added. “And, in the end, as a father, I get it. I’m not offended. I’m not insulted. I don’t have any animosity, I have no animus towards LeBron James for this, nothing like that.”