The ESPN star, Stephen A. Smith, who allegedly signed a lucrative contract extension with the network, addressed his recent interaction with the four -time NBA champion LeBron James.
Smith was present for the overtime victory of Los Angeles Lakers over the New York Knicks on Thursday. But, the confrontation between Smith and James eclipsed the events of the game.
Smith said the exchange arose from the concerns of the NBA superstar about the comments of the television personality about his eldest son, Bronny Janes. Smith also described the incident as “unexpected.”
CLICK HERE for more sports coverage at Foxnews.com
Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James (IMAGN)
“That was that LeBron James approached me, unexpectedly, I could add, to confront myself to make sure that I care about what I say about his son,” Smith said about “First take” in reference to the rookie of the Lakers.
LeBron James becomes the first player to reach 50,000 points of the NBA of Carrera
“I cannot repeat the words because they are not suitable for the FCC waves, that is what I was doing. And I thought a lot about this in the last hours because I had no intention of talking about this,” Smith said about the viral moment.
And the reason was because it was one by one, I would not say it was a conversation, but it was an individual confrontation. But then I wake up and all of ESPN, my agent and everyone else sent me that this had gone viral, so, ultimately, it was inevitable and that is why I have to discuss it now. “
October 23, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA.; Stephen A. Smith (Stephen Smith) on the SET of ESPN’s countdown to NBA in Intuit Dome. (Kirby Lee-Imagn images)
Smith suggested that the interaction was among a couple of parents, rather than an exchange between a basketball player and a sports television star.
The Los Angeles Lakers Guard Bronny James (9) and striker LeBron James (23) are heated before the match against the Phoenix Suns in Crypto.com Arena. (Images Jonathan Hui-Imagn)
“That Wasn’t a Basketball Player Confronting Me, That Was A Parent, That Was A Father. Deeply About His Son, and Based on Sub of The Comments He Had Heard Or Shall I Say I Think He Thought He Heard, Clearly Took Exception to sum of The Things He Heard Me Say, and He confronted me about it. “
Smith also suggested that he would be open to having more discussions with James in a private conversation.
