LeBron Tries to Punk Stephen A Smith and Tells Him to Keep Bronny James Out of His Mouth

This morning on First Take, Stephen A. spilled the tea. “That was LeBron James coming up to me, unexpectedly I might add, to confront me about making sure I mind what I say about his son,” he said, his tone a mix of reflection and restraint. The son in question? Bronny James, the Lakers rookie and LeBron’s eldest, who’s been a lightning rod for debate since being drafted 55th overall in 2024.
Stephen A. has been vocal about Bronny’s NBA journey, often framing it as a product of LeBron’s influence rather than merit. “We all know Bronny James is in the NBA because of his dad,” he’s said before, doubling down with critiques about Bronny’s readiness. Just last week, he argued Bronny belongs in the G League, not on an NBA roster—not a knock on the kid’s potential, he insists, but on the pressure LeBron’s put him under. “He’s exposing his son,” Stephen A. said recently, pointing to Bronny’s meager 44 minutes and 4 points across 13 games this season.

LeBron, it seems, had heard enough. Last night, he didn’t send a text or call through an agent—he took it straight to Stephen A.’s face, in front of a packed arena and rolling cameras. “That wasn’t a basketball player confronting me,” Stephen A. reflected today. “That was a parent, a father.”

This isn’t just a one-off spat—it’s the latest chapter in a simmering tension between two titans of their crafts. LeBron’s been vocal about the media’s “weird energy,” calling out pundits for tearing down players while expecting them to carry the league’s torch. Stephen A., meanwhile, thrives on bold takes; it’s his job to stir the pot, and he’s got a shiny new $100 million ESPN deal to prove it. But last night, that pot boiled over.

Stephen A. admitted he could’ve handled it differently. “LeBron knows how to get in contact with me,” he said, noting that Rich Paul and Maverick Carter have his number. “Had he called, I would’ve flown out and had a man-to-man conversation.” Instead, LeBron chose the public stage—a power move that screams, “I’m done with the chatter.”

Fans are split. Some cheer LeBron for defending his son, seeing it as a raw, human moment from a legend who’s usually polished. “LeBron said fuck a phone call, I’mma see you in person—respect,” one X user posted. Others side with Stephen A., arguing Bronny’s fair game as an NBA player, especially given LeBron’s role in his spotlight. “Stephen A.’s just doing his job,” another wrote. “LeBron put Bronny out there.”
The confrontation’s already a cultural moment—memes, hot takes, and debates are flying. Will LeBron double down? Will Stephen A. fire back harder on Monday’s First Take? One thing’s certain: this isn’t over. LeBron’s got the Lakers rolling into a road trip against the Celtics tomorrow, while Stephen A.’s got airtime to fill. Both men are masters of their domains, and neither backs down easily.

Flip the page for the confrontation and some Twitter reactions.

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