Stephen A. Smith Subtly Accuses LeBron James of Attempts to Career Sabotage After Confrontation

LeBron James confronting Stephen A. Smith at a Lakers game started a discourse that captured the attention of fans for quite some time.

Stephen A. Smith Subtly Accuses LeBron James of Attempts to Career Sabotage After Confrontation

Stephen A. Smith claims LeBron James wanted to harm his career (Image via FirstSportz)

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Stephen A. Smith prides himself on the opinions he blurts out on television. Many of his opinions have irked players, but LeBron James was the only one who confronted the ESPN analyst publicly.

It so happened that the Los Angeles Lakers superstar was upset with some of the comments Smith made about his son, Bronny James. The next day, the latter addressed the issue, but did not make a huge hue and cry about it.

That stance changed later when he appeared on several platforms, admonishing James for publicly confronting him. Smith tried to put on a brave face amidst growing fan support for the Lakers’ superstar.

He even tried to court right-wingers, who generally do not like the Akron native, in a move to garner support. To counter that, LeBron James appeared on The Pat McAfee Show and publicly trolled the ESPN analyst.

Humiliated, Stephen A. Smith then went on to try to assassinate the superstar’s character, only for it to backfire. Now, months after the incident, Smith appeared on Gil’s Arena and was asked if he had a relationship with James.

He doesn’t like me, and I don’t like him. All I would say is people don’t know the things that have happened behind the scenes. Things that have been said, who they’ve been said to. The kind of things that have been engaged in an effort to hurt me, along with contemporaries and others.

Stephen A. Smith said

The 57-year-old’s revelation suggests there might have been an attempt to undermine his career at ESPN. But there is only one side of the story available. Moreover, Smith did not explicitly reveal what was done to jeopardize his career or harm his reputation.

Stephen A. Smith does not want to talk about LeBron James

Stephen A. Smith maintains that when LeBron James confronted him, it had nothing to do with Bronny James. Considering all that happened and his claims mentioned above, the host of Gil’s Arena, Josiah Johnson, asked if mediation could get them talking again.

There is no one that can mediate. It’s okay. I don’t talk about him unless I’m asked. I have no desire to talk about him at all. If I never, ever speak to him again in life, I’m good with it.

Stephen A. Smith said

It would not take much for anyone to know whether LeBron James would want to speak with Smith again. But the latter has made it clear that he does not have a desire to talk to the Lakers superstar.

When it comes to covering him on ESPN, Smith reiterated that it was his job. Therefore, he has to do it. So far, the 57-year-old has been professional about it and even supported James after Sixers GM Daryl Morey undermined his bubble championship win.

Stephen A. Smith is open to speaking with LeBron James again

This fallout has had a detrimental effect on the analyst’s image. Most of it is self-inflicted, even though he believes LeBron James and his associates tried to hurt him in various ways. Despite all that, the ESPN analyst is fine with resuming conversations, but has a warning to share.

I’m man enough where if he ever wanted to speak to me, I would. But it wouldn’t be the most pleasant conversation, at least initially.

Stephen A. Smith said
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James
Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James (Image via Open Source/X)

The 57-year-old reiterated that he will initially charge the 4-time league MVP for his alleged actions. Then it could sober down to a normal conversation. He might have their best interest at heart, but there seems to be a gray area that would never be officially confirmed.

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