When it was announced that LeBron James would be joining The Pat McAfee Show this week, many immediately recalled the ongoing feud between the Los Angeles Lakers superstar and Stephen A. Smith. McAfee, having reportedly faced his own issues with Smith in the past, seized the opportunity to invite James to comment on their contentious dynamic.
The 4-time MVP took the opportunity to make his first public remarks regarding the viral confrontation between the two during a Lakers game earlier this month. In a similar fashion to many observers, James mocked the frequency with which Smith has addressed the situation himself, despite the First Take star insisting that he did not wish to discuss it. “He’s like on a Taylor Swift tour run right now,” James quipped about Smith.
To this, McAfee responded, “Oh yeah, we’re watching it.” James continued, mimicking Smith’s earlier remarks: “It started off with, ‘I didn’t wanna address it… but since the video came out, I feel the need to address it.’ Are you kidding me? If there’s one person who couldn’t wait for the video to drop so you could address it, it’s your ass. Seriously?”
James elaborated that Smith had “missed the whole point” concerning his concerns, specifically referencing Smith’s comments about Bronny James’ playing time. Contrary to popular belief, James asserted he has no issue with his son facing criticism as an NBA player; rather, he felt Smith’s remarks crossed a line. “Never would I ever not allow people to talk about the sport, criticize players about what they do on the court,” the 40-year-old forward stated. “That is your job… However, when you make things personal, it’s my responsibility to protect my household and the players.”
“I think a lot of the media, including him — and I know he’s gonna be happy as hell. He’s gonna get home and grab some ice cream… like, dude, relax, bro,” James concluded, humorously highlighting Smith’s likely reaction.
“Stephen A Smith is on a Taylor Swift tour run right now 😂😂
He completely missed the whole point..
He got personal with it and it’s my job to not only protect my own household but also all the players” @KingJames #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/LKKFmvtFWM
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 26, 2025
While James seemed to lose his train of thought while envisioning Smith’s reaction, the bigger narrative lies in the fact that this entire exchange unfolded on ESPN’s airwaves. Just weeks after Smith signed a reported $100 million contract to remain with the network, he found himself being criticized by the most famous athlete on the planet during a highly promoted, commercial-free interview — all while another prominent ESPN talent, McAfee, laughed along.
Such is life at ESPN in 2025, especially with McAfee’s unique setup, producing and leasing his daily show to the network. As James hinted, his remarks are likely to prompt a response from Smith, keeping their feud active, which seems to align perfectly with ESPN’s goals — especially when it all occurs on the network’s airwaves.
