Los Angeles Lakers icon LeBron James has addressed a widely circulated clash with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith during a candid interview on The Pat McAfee Show on March 26, 2025.
With his trademark intensity, LeBron called out Smith for what he sees as opportunistic storytelling, setting the record straight on his terms.
The exchange started when host Pat McAfee referenced a viral clip with fans buzzing. LeBron didn’t hesitate: “He’s like on a Taylor Swift tour run right now. It started off with, ‘I didn’t want to address it. I wasn’t going to address it, but since the video came out, I feel the need to address it.’ Are you kidding me? If there was one person that couldn’t wait for the video to drop so you could address it, it’s your ass. Like seriously?” The studio erupted in laughter, but LeBron’s point landed hard—he wasn’t buying Smith’s reluctance act.
The tension traces back to Smith’s recent comments on ESPN about LeBron’s son, Bronny James, and his play with the Lakers.
LeBron, a veteran unfazed by on-court critiques, drew a line when the remarks veered into personal territory.
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“Never would I ever not allow people to talk about the sport, criticize players about what they do on the court. That is your job,” he told McAfee. “But when you take it and you get personal with it, it’s my job to not only protect my damn household, but to protect the players.”
LeBron underscored that while he welcomes analysis of the game, targeting his family crosses an unacceptable boundary.
