A new clip has emerged appearing to show LeBron James discussing his beef with Stephen A. Smith in the wake of their courtside confrontation.
The Lakers star had a heated exchange with the ‘First Take’ host, who was in the crowd for Los Angeles’ win over the Knicks last week.
It came after they had traded comments in the media and Smith later explained how LeBron took issue with comments he made about his son, Bronny James.
‘That was Lebron James coming up to me, unexpectedly, I might add, to confront me about making sure that I mind what I say about his son,’ the ESPN star revealed. ‘I can’t repeat the words because they aren’t suited for airwaves.’
Now footage has emerged which seems to show James talking about the confrontation with Smith’s ESPN colleague Richard Jefferson before the Lakers’ game against the Celtics on Saturday.
‘That’s the only thing I’m tripping,’ James could be heard saying. ‘I don’t give a f***. Once he talks about: “I’m pleading to you as a father”. I can’t.’
A new clip appears to show LeBron James discussing his beef with Stephen A. Smith
Cameras caught James having a heated exchange with ESPN star Smith last week
LeBron overheard talking about confronting Stephen A. Smith:“I don’t give a f***… Once he talks about: ‘I’m pleading you as a father,’ I can’t.”(via @legendz_nba)pic.twitter.com/6ID8jwE8By
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) March 10, 2025
The 40-year-old appeared to be making reference to Smith’s comments from earlier this year, when the ESPN host took aim at LeBron after Bronny was drafted by the Lakers.
‘I’m really, really trying to be as respectful as I possibly can be toward LeBron James, one of the top two or three players in the history of basketball,’ Smith said.
‘I am pleading with LeBron James, as a father. Stop this. Stop this. We all know that Bronny James is in the NBA because of his dad.’
Smith insisted Bronny belonged in the G League and claimed he was ‘rooting’ for the ‘wonderful kid’. ‘I wish him nothing but the best,’ the ESPN star added.
People close to James reached out to Smith over his comments, ‘talking to me about questioning him as a father,’ the ESPN host revealed. That ‘p***ed off’ Smith.
After their courtside confrontation went viral, Smith discussed the exchange on ESPN.
‘That wasn’t a basketball player confronting me. That was a parent. That was a father. And I can’t sit here and be angry or feel slighted by LeBron James in any way in that regard,’ he said.
The Los Angeles star and ESPN pundit had recently been exchanging words about the NBA
‘By all accounts, he’s obviously a wonderful family man and a wonderful father who cares very, very deeply about his son.’
He continued: ‘I’m not blaming him one bit… but it’s my job to talk about the subjects and the subject matters that matter. I work for ESPN.
‘I’m not one of those that get into people’s private affairs but what you do on a public platform for public consumption, that’s what I cover. That’s what I do for a living. And if you’re in the NBA, that applies to you.
‘I don’t want enemies. I live a very good life. I like to make people laugh and smile and have a good time and all of that other stuff. But I also get paid to call it like I see it. And what I said at the time, I stand by what I said.’