Stephen A Smith makes surprising admission about LeBron James feud

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Matthew Couden

By Matthew Couden

Contributing Writer

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Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James have famously feuded for over a year, stemming from Smith's remarks about James' son, Bronny James, and his entry into the NBA.

The elder James made headlines this offseason when he decided to leave the Los Angeles Lakers, where his son is still on the roster, and sign as a free agent with the Philadelphia 76ers. With the 76ers off to a hot start in their first 11 games, Smith recently revealed where he stands on his past disagreements with LeBron James.

"You all know that I've had my issues with LeBron James and vice versa," Smith said on his "The Stephen A. Smith Show," adding, "I do not hate the man. I was pissed off at one point in time, but I'm thoroughly over that. I'm 59 years old. Life is short, ain't got time for all of that."

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"I wish him nothing but the best, and I'm looking forward to covering him as his career comes to an end over the next two years. Hopefully, he'll win a championship for Philadelphia," he said.

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ESPN star Stepen A Smith at the Cowboys game against Eagles in Philadelphia

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Smith made critical remarks about Bronny James as a basketball player in January 2025 on ESPN's "First Take," suggesting he needed to spend time playing in the NBA G League. Smith also called out how he landed in the NBA on the Lakers' roster, the same team as his legendary dad was part of since 2018.

That March, cameras captured LeBron James confronting Smith at the Lakers' game against the New York Knicks. The confrontation reportedly involved Smith's on-air reporting about LeBron James' son.

The next day, Smith spoke about the encounter on ESPN and called James "weak," also indicating that LeBron James declined an offer for them to discuss things privately.

Later that month, James was a guest on "The Pat McAfee Show" to discuss confronting Smith, claiming the ESPN star makes up drama to draw attention and publicity.

Smith fired back again on his show, saying that LeBron James was a "liar" and indicated he would've physically retaliated if James touched him during the game. James then mocked Smith's claim by sharing an older video to show Smith boxing.

Earlier this year, Smith appeared on "In Depth With Graham Bensinger" and maintained that he and LeBron James "don't like each other." He said that he believed the NBA superstar "crossed the line" when he confronted him at the Lakers game, but also praised him as a "good person," despite their differences.

"Time heals everything. As I see his career dwindling, it’s important everyone knows that I know how great he is. I know how great he has been for the game of basketball," Smith told Bensinger.

Smith's recent stance suggests he's no longer interested in any of that drama or beef at his age. He also realizes that one of the NBA's all-time greats is nearing retirement, and it's simply not worth continuing to feud when he could instead appreciate the final years of LeBron James' legendary career.

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