ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith absolutely shredded LeBron James after the Los Angeles Lakers star made comments suggesting that being the face of the NBA isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
James was asked to comment on Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards’s statement that he doesn’t want to be the face of the league but would rather be “the guy to just show up and hoop and just kill dudes and go home.”
LeBron indicated that he could hardly blame Edwards.
“Channing Frye said, ‘Why do you want to be the face of the league when all the people that cover our game and talk about our game on a day-to-day basis s—on everybody?’ James told reporters.
Smith took those comments personally and hammered the future Hall of Famer.
LeBron on Anthony Edwards’ statement at All-Star that he isn’t striving to become the face of the NBA: “Channing Frye said it … ‘Why do you want to be the face of the league when all the people that cover our game and talk about our game on a day-to-day basis s— on everybody?’” pic.twitter.com/dNHHrzWRiT
— Dave McMenamin (@mcten) February 28, 2025
Stephen A Didn’t Appreciate LeBron James’ Whining
Perhaps if LeBron James were a better all-around player like Michael Jordan, or a more likable player like Magic Johnson, people wouldn’t be making him feel so down.
And if he thought people covering the NBA were ripping him before, he’s really not going to like what Stephen A. had to say about him.
“When he talks about people covering the league, we know he’s talking about me…and he’s not just talking about people like me, he talked about Inside the NBA,” Smith said Friday’s edition of First Take.
“I don’t appreciate what [LeBron James] said.”
That’s when he laid the hammer down.
“This is fresh off of an All-Star Weekend that he elected not to participate in… He ruined the Slam Dunk Contest because he’s the first superstar that didn’t do it,” Smith criticized.
"I don't appreciate what [LeBron James] said… This is fresh off of an All-Star Weekend that he elected not to participate in… He ruined the Slam Dunk Contest because he's the first superstar that didn't do it."
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 28, 2025
— Stephen A. Smith 🗣️
(via @FirstTake)pic.twitter.com/gGsumuOu6G
RELATED: Stephen A. Smith Begs LeBron To Pull The Plug On The Bronny James Experiment
What A Change Of Tune
These are some incredibly harsh words lobbied at LeBron James. But they are the truth. James did essentially murder the Slam Dunk contest and diminish it to a parlor trick with no names by refusing to participate.
And James did just cancel on the All-Star game at the last minute, taking away a first-time opportunity for 31-year-old veteran Norman Powell.
Still, this is a long way from Smith scolding NBA fans just four months ago for criticizing the Bronny James circus because they “owed” it to LeBron for everything he’s done for the game.
“For him to have his son on the team with him, I’ve got no issues with it whatsoever,” Smith said. “LeBron James has earned that. Bronny James has something to prove. Fair enough. But LeBron James has earned it. He has earned our respect, our reverence, our deference, our appreciation.”
“For us to look at something that he wants and say, ‘Excuse me can we do that for him?’ Yes, we can. Not just the Lakers, but NBA fans everywhere,” added Smith. “Yes, we owe it to LeBron James.”
Just last month, Smith reversed course and begged LeBron James to end the Bronny experiment. Now, he’s ‘ruined’ the game. Amazing.
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