LeBron James Confronts ESPN's Stephen A. Smith Courtside After Los Angeles Lakers' Overtime Win Against New York Knicks

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Mar 10, 2025, 19:12 IST

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LeBron James confronted sports commentator Stephen A. Smith after Smith questioned Bronny James' readiness for the NBA, attributing his entry to his father’s influence. The incident sparked debates among fans and analysts, with Doug Gottlieb criticizing LeBron for using 'bully tactics' in defense of his son.

LeBron James Confronts ESPN's Stephen A. Smith Courtside After Los Angeles Lakers' Overtime Win Against New York Knicks

(Image Via Getty)

What’s the deal when a huge NBA star clashes with one of the most vocal sports commentators? After Stephen A. Smith raised doubts about Bronny James’ future in the NBA, LeBron James jumped in to confront him right on the court.
With emotions at a peak, the debate about Bronny’s career has split fans, analysts, and even coaches like Doug Gottlieb, who referred to LeBron’s reaction as “bully tactics.” Is LeBron just protecting his son, or is he going too far?

LeBron James Sends Clear Message to Critics After Emotional Discussion with Stephen A. Smith

Right after the Lakers pulled off a 113-109 overtime victory against the Knicks, things got heated. LeBron went up to Smith, clearly frustrated, and told him to "keep my son out of this."

This was in reaction to Smith's comments about Bronny, claiming that he only made it to the NBA because of LeBron, implying that he wasn't quite ready for the big leagues yet.

Stephen A. Smith Clarifies His Criticism Was About LeBron James’ Decisions

On his show "First Take," Smith talked about the incident and made it clear that his comments were focused on LeBron's choices for Bronny's career, not on Bronny himself. He gets that LeBron is just being a protective dad, but as a journalist, he feels it's important to give an unbiased take on public figures and their decisions.

Doug Gottlieb Criticizes LeBron James for Confronting Stephen A. Smith

Doug Gottlieb called out LeBron James for his clash with Stephen A. Smith, labeling it as "bully tactics." He said, "You're either at the table or on the menu, it's bully tactics." He even likened LeBron's actions to those of an overly intense parent in youth sports, remarking, "Yes, LeBron is just like a dad, and a bad AAU dad at that; you don’t confront people about your kid." Gottlieb also claimed that Bronny James made it to the NBA purely because of his dad's clout: "Bronny James is in the NBA and the only reason why is because LeBron wants him in the NBA."

It's natural for LeBron to support his son yet we must acknowledge that public figures with families receive intense scrutiny thus professional insights from figures like Smith matter in sports.
When Bronny James starts his professional journey the discussions regarding his family endorsement along with pro scouting assessments will definitely stimulate NBA community engagement.
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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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