LeBron James had a conversation with former teammate and now-ESPN analyst Richard Jefferson about the Stephen A. Smith confrontation. James could be heard telling Jefferson, who may have been sticking up for his colleague, that he doesn’t have a problem with any criticisms that Smith may have, but when he asked for Bronny’s NBA career to end as a father, he couldn’t tolerate it anymore.
“I know… Right, right, right. That’s the only thing I’m tripping over. I don’t give a f**k. Once he talks about, ‘I’m pleading you as a father’, I can’t.”
LEAKED Audio Of LeBron James Talking About The Stephen A Smith Confrontation👀:
“Once he talks about: ‘I’m pleading you as a father,’ I can’t” pic.twitter.com/RJhi7gxuSa
— LegendZ (@legendz_prod) March 10, 2025
Just a few weeks ago, Stephen A. Smith went on ESPN’s First Take and pleaded with LeBron James as a father to end Bronny James’ NBA career, thinking that him getting big NBA minutes was a disgrace to the sport. James, who usually never responds directly to Smith’s critiques of him as a player, didn’t take those comments lying down.
Smith himself addressed the altercation the following day on First Take, confirming that LeBron had asked him not to speak negatively about Bronny James for no reason. While Smith understood where he was coming from, he refused to apologize and clarified that he was being critical of LeBron and not Bronny.
More details emerged about the confrontation between LeBron and Smith. Clearly, this is a volatile situation for LeBron, as he is a proud family man who doesn’t tolerate anyone disrespecting members of his family or his role as a husband and father. The Lakers superstar didn’t make any more public comments.
However, not everyone was happy with how he handled the situation. UFC star Colby Covington, who has a one-sided beef with LeBron James, went on yet another incoherent, profanity-laden rant about the King confronting Stephen A. Smith.
LeBron Has Bigger Problems Right Now
Now that the Smith situation is in his rear-view mirror, LeBron James can focus on the pressing matters in front of him. Against the Boston Celtics, James suffered a groin strain that forced him to exit the game and will force him to miss time away from the Lakers entering into the final stretch of the season.
Reports are suggesting that LeBron could miss up to two weeks with the groin strain, as it is a Grade 1 injury. The All-Star didn’t seem all too concerned about the injury, planning to take things day by day. However, given his age and the amount he has played this season, that number could increase at any point, as his recovery will need to be precise down to the last detail.
James has been fantastic this season, averaging 25.0 points, 8.5 assists, 8.2 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 0.6 blocks per game while shooting 51.7% from the field, 38.4% from the three-point line, and 77.0% from the free-throw line. The fact that he is putting up these numbers at 40 years old, given how similar they are to his third MVP season in 2012, is truly astonishing.
Hopefully, LeBron can make a speedy recovery and return to the Lakers soon. But given that, unlike the last few years, the Lakers aren’t fighting for a play-in spot and are likely to automatically qualify for the playoffs, they might use this injury as a chance to get LeBron some rest heading into the postseason.
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