Stephen A. Smith is one of the most outspoken media personalities in basketball. The 56-year-old journalist has clashed with some of the game's biggest stars because of his unfiltered opinions. Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James is one of them.
While the four-time champion has maintained a very good relationship with the media throughout his NBA career, Smith is one of those whom he isn't close to. During Stephen A.'s appearance on the latest episode of The OGs Show, he talked about his relationship with LeBron .
"LeBron, I don't have the greatest relationship with LeBron James," Smith said . "I don't give a damn about not having the greatest relationship with LeBron James, but I know he's great."
James doesn't like to get criticized
Smith went on to call Bron a great father, family man, ambassador, and role model. Stephen A. also said that he is rooting for King James to acquire ownership of the Las Vegas franchise if and when the NBA decides to expand its doors.
The ESPN analyst also said he did not enjoy telling the four-time MVP during the 2011 NBA Finals that he was afraid to shoot against the Dallas Mavericks. But he said that was just professional criticism because he gets to talk about basketball and calls things the way he sees them. However, Bron doesn't take criticism well.
"The second you praise him, he'll soak it all in," Smith added. "You give him major props for what he accomplished; he'll soak it all in. The second you criticize him, (it's), 'Well, you know, I'm just trying to be there for the kids and just trying to do what's right for the community.' And it pissed me off because that was a slick way of taking attention away from the basketball element and making it something other than basketball, which is what we were talking about."
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SAS 'defended' Bron from nepotism accusations
But while Stephen A. was critical of King James, he rushed to his side and defended him after the Lakers drafted his son Bronny with the 55th pick of the 2024 NBA Draft. Critics called the move nepotism, but Smith went out of his way to lash out at the critics.
"We live in a country where nepotism has taken place with white folks religiously, forever," Smith explained . "In the NBA specifically, in a league where at least 70 percent of the players are Black, we've seen nepotism with white folks all over the place. Ownership, executive ranks, player personnel, scouting, coaching, the list goes on and on. We've said little to nothing about it. And now this happens with LeBron James, a member of the Mount Rushmore of basketball, and all of a sudden, you've got people running their mouths."
Stephen A. may not be good buddies with LeBron, but it's clear that respect is there, at least on Smith's side. He may go way overboard with his comments sometimes, but he is still one of the most respected NBA voices because he doesn't leave anyone behind.
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