Stephen A. Smith is no stranger to controversy, but his latest remarks may have crossed the line—again. During The Stephen A. Smith Show, the ESPN personality took another swing at LeBron James, delivering one of his most cold-blooded takes yet in their ongoing public feud.
“When you retire, let’s see how much I talk about you then. You won’t matter much. I promise you.”
In what has become one of the most high-profile beefs in modern sports media, Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James are in the middle of a full-blown verbal war, and it’s spiraling into unprecedented territory.
What began as a criticism of Bronny James’ performance has now turned into a clash between two titans—one the face of the NBA, the other the voice of it.
The tension reached a boiling point when LeBron approached Smith courtside during a Lakers-Knicks game. That confrontation was later confirmed by Smith himself. But it didn’t stop there.
Smith went on Gil’s Arena, appeared on Fox News, and did a full-blown media tour to air his side of the story. LeBron clapped back during his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, likening Smith’s behavior to a “Taylor Swift tour run” and mocking his need for attention.
He criticized Smith for missing the point entirely and for crossing the line from on-court criticism to personal attacks, particularly around parenting and family.
Smith, of course, couldn’t let that slide. On his next show, he unleashed, calling LeBron a “liar” and “two-faced,” claiming that the Lakers star was manipulating public perception.
He even brought up a scenario in which LeBron could have assaulted him during their courtside encounter—despite admitting he didn’t feel physically threatened. In the eyes of many, that part of the rant was bizarre and unnecessarily dramatic.
Then came the most outlandish statement yet—Smith saying that once LeBron retires, “he won’t matter much.”
Let’s pause on that. LeBron James is not only a four-time NBA champion and arguably the greatest player of all time, but he’s also a global icon, media mogul, philanthropist, and cultural force.
The idea that his relevance will disappear the moment he hangs it up is, quite frankly, laughable.
Smith’s comments are rooted in personal frustration, not fact. If anything, LeBron’s influence will only expand post-retirement. Whether through ownership, filmmaking, or his endless business ventures, LeBron will remain a headline fixture long after he stops lacing up his sneakers.
Stephen A. might believe he’s “winning” the argument in the media, but in reality, LeBron is simply letting his resume and legacy do the talking.
And if anything, this war has only solidified how much LeBron James does matter—because no one, not even Stephen A., can seem to stop talking about him.
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