Stephen A. Smith Alters LeBron James ‘Beef’ Knowing He Tried to Sabotage ESPN Career

Stephen A. Smith has been on a tirade against Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James ever since the latter confronted him publicly.

Stephen A. Smith Alters LeBron James ‘Beef’ Knowing He Tried to Sabotage ESPN Career

LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith (Image via FirstSportz)

In Short
  • Stephen A. Smith has publicly criticized LeBron James, stating they do not like each other.
  • Smith acknowledged LeBron's impact on basketball and his own career, despite their differences.
  • He expressed a desire to move on from their feud, recognizing LeBron's contributions to the sport.

Every time longtime journalist Stephen A. Smith appears on any platform, he does not shy away from taking a shot at Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James.

Ever since the four-time champion proclaimed himself to be the GOAT of basketball, the ESPN analyst has generally criticized him. After all, Smith’s GOAT is Michael Jordan, and he defends that every time.

Matters took a turn for the worse when the King confronted Smith during a Lakers game, and fans found out when clips of their interaction became public.

Since then, the 58-year-old has amplified his negative rhetoric, even going to the extent of making it clear that he did not ‘like’ the Lakers forward at all. Now, when he appeared on In Depth with Graham Bensinger, he said this:

We don’t like each other… I hope he’s watching when I say this… But I think he crossed the line with the incident involving his son… I don’t think I did what he said I was doing. I thought that was very, very unfair and a low blow… Having said that, time heals everything.

Smith said

It seems the ESPN executive producer first made it clear that he is still unhappy with the way LeBron James confronted him publicly, and then went on The Pat McAfee Show, on the same network, to mock his retaliatory efforts with memes and jokes.

Stephen A. Smith gets real about his feelings for LeBron James

Other than the fact that Stephen A. Smith has been found to have continued his apparent ‘hate’ towards LeBron James, the analyst then went on to reveal what he truly feels about the veteran superstar.

Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James during civil times
Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James during civil times (Image via Complex/X)

I know how great he has been for the game of basketball. Anybody who has been that great, people like me have benefited because he gives us something to talk about. He’s provided a level of entertainment that has made an exponential amount of lives better. Just because he and I have a difference, does not mean he’s not a good man.

This statement indicates that the father of two is changing his stance towards the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, effectively quashing the ‘beef’ that became the central storyline over the past year.

Smith acknowledging that LeBron James has given him enough to talk about in his career is a first, as never before has the Queens, New York native acknowledged that.

All of this might come as a surprise, as Stephen A. Smith has accused the four-time league MVP of trying to sabotage his career. Usually, people do not forget such things, but it seems the analyst is trying to move on.

Stephen A. Smith reiterates he ‘owes’ LeBron James for helping his career blossom

While continuing to talk about how LeBron James has helped his career, Stephen A. Smith went on to detail that every basketball superstar in his lifetime has done so.

So many of these guys that have uplifted the game of basketball, because that guy, him and Steph Curry, stand above the crowd. I’m going to throw Kevin Durant in there… If I can sit up there and say, ‘I owe them,’ how do I not owe LeBron?

Smith said

This reiterated his opinion that just because he had a tussle with the Lakers’ superstar, it does not take away from the fact that he ‘owes’ LeBron James for helping build his media career.

Smith went on to say that whenever the father of three continues to showcase his greatness on the court, he would acknowledge it. At the same time, if James makes mistakes, it is his duty as a journalist and analyst that he has to talk and criticize them.

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