By ISABEL BALDWIN
Published: 10:27 EST, 7 March 2025 | Updated: 10:31 EST, 7 March 2025
Stephen A. Smith has spoken out on his courtside confrontation with NBA superstar LeBron James on Thursday night.
Cameras caught the ESPN personality and Los Angeles Lakers star in a heated exchange of words with Smith sat courtside for the game against his beloved New York Knicks
James, the NBA's all-time leading point scorer, appeared animated as he came over to the sideline to speak to Smith after Los Angeles had triumphed 113-109 at Crypto.com Arena.
Smith addressed the courtside clash during Friday's episode of ESPN's 'First Take' as he revealed that James confronted him about remarks the analyst had made about his son, Bronny.
'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,' Smith began after the clip of their interaction played. 'I can't repeat the words because they aren't suited for airwaves.'
Smith went on to claim that he had intended to avoid discussing the altercation publicly but after the clip took the internet by storm, he admitted it was inescapable.
Cameras caught LeBron James having a heated exchange with ESPN star Stephen A. Smith
Smith addressed the courtside altercation during Friday's episode of his 'First Take' show
'I thought long and hard about this over the past few hours because I had no intention of talking about this at all,' he continued. 'The reason is because it was a one-on-one, I wouldn't say it was a conversation, but it was a one-on-one confrontation. But then I wake up and everybody from ESPN and my agent and everybody else were telling me that this thing had gone viral so ultimately it was unavoidable. That is why I have to discuss it now.
'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. By all accounts, he's obviously a wonderful family man and a wonderful father who cares very, very deeply about his son.'
Smith appeared to take a sly dig at James when he suggested that the conversation should have taken place out of the public eye.
The host claimed that James could have reached out to him earlier to discuss his issues, instead of allowing tensions to boil over in such an exposing manner.
'Lebron James knows how to get in contact with me if he wanted to,' Smith went on. 'He never called. Because had he called and wanted to talk to me, I would have accepted that call. Had he wanted to see me, I would have flown out and seen him and had a conversation man-to-man. But that is not what he elected to do.
'Instead he elected to confront me while I was sitting courtside. He walked right up to me and he said what he had to say.'
More to follow.