Stephen A. Smith says he still believes LeBron James attempted to potentially hurt his career, but the veteran ESPN personality insists he has chosen growth over grudges as he reflects on a yearslong rift with one of the NBA’s most powerful figures.
During an appearance on In Depth with Graham Bensinger, Smith addressed the tension directly, stopping short of detailing specific actions yet making clear he feels confident in his assessment. “I can’t talk about it,” Smith said. “I’ve never talked about it, and I won’t. Other than to say, I know that to be true, and that is unfortunate.”
Smith added that his belief was reinforced when James appeared on The Pat McAfee Show, a program that airs after First Take, and discussed him publicly. In Smith’s view, choosing that particular platform carried symbolic weight because it created a direct programming adjacency that amplified the criticism. He characterized the move as disrespectful and suggested it validated concerns he had previously kept private.
The friction between the two men intensified in March 2025, when James approached Smith courtside during a nationally televised Los Angeles Lakers game, a moment that quickly circulated online and fueled speculation about deeper animosity. At the time, Smith publicly downplayed the encounter, framing it as a father reacting defensively, yet he later acknowledged feeling blindsided by both the timing and the optics of the confrontation.
James, whose decorated career has spanned the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat and Lakers, has long operated under intense media scrutiny, including pointed analysis from Smith on leadership, legacy and team performance. Smith conceded that his commentary may have affected James in ways other critics have not, potentially contributing to the superstar’s reaction.
“I might have affected him in ways that other people haven’t, and that might have provoked him to do whatever,” Smith said. “At the end of the day, I just know that I’m 58 years old, and I’m not interested in walking around bitter and with a grudge.”
Although Smith maintained that he has known about “several things in the past,” he emphasized that he has moved beyond dwelling on them.
“Like I said, I moved past it,” he explained, underscoring a desire to focus on his work rather than revisit perceived slights.
In recent months, Smith has made a conscious effort to keep his analysis centered on basketball performance and league storylines instead of personal friction, signaling that he wants to avoid escalating a dispute that already commands national attention. He also acknowledged James’ broader impact, noting the four-time champion’s contributions to the sport and the community.
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