There’s been a lot of buzz in the sports world regarding the ongoing feud between ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, even drawing comments from NBA commissioner Adam Silver. During a press conference following a league Board of Governors meeting, Silver addressed the latest developments in the dispute, which included a lengthy interview with James on The Pat McAfee Show on Wednesday and nearly an entire episode of First Take on Thursday that featured Smith and his team responding.
Silver took a balanced stance, indicating that personal gossip is “part of the DNA of the league,” with both advantages and drawbacks. “We’re a particular sport in which that kind of debate is ingrained in the fabric of this league,” Silver expressed. He admitted feeling envious of other sports whose coverage seems more celebratory. “We’re often beneficiaries of this interest, as there’s considerable social media activity surrounding the NBA—sometimes as much as all other leagues combined. While it is gratifying to see such engagement with our sport, there are times I cringe at the way it’s presented. I wish the focus would primarily be on what happens on the court, and I feel protective of our players.”
Here’s my question to NBA commissioner Adam Silver on the ongoing war of words between LeBron James and Stephen A…#NBA pic.twitter.com/peDaIlnhTt
— Randall Williams (@AvatarRandall) March 27, 2025
In recent years, as NBA viewership has declined and the league has lost some ground to the NFL, Silver’s passive approach to the increasingly chaotic coverage has been contrasted with that of his predecessor, the late David Stern. Under Stern, the NBA exerted significant control over its image and presentation, being known for pioneering distinctive camera angles, a strict dress code, and network staffing decisions.
Hence, Silver’s refusal to criticize Smith—and James—in their ongoing back-and-forth may disappoint those hoping the commissioner would intervene. However, he did emphasize that while off-court antics are inherently part of the game, he desires for NBA coverage to remain predominantly positive. “I sure wish it would never become personal,” he concluded.
