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Topics: NBA, Lebron James, Basketball, Stephen A Smith
Ryan Baldi
LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith have been engaged in a war of words since the two were seen locked in a heated discussion courtside at a recent LA Lakers game.
The 40-year-old superstar is currently playing in his 22nd NBA season and recently became the first player in the league's history to score 50,000 total points.
After the Lakers beat the New York Knicks 113-109 on March 7 – a game in which James recorded 31 points, 12 rebounds and eight assists – the LA No.23 confronted Smith, who had been watching the game from a seat close to the court, about remarks the journalist had made about the player's son, Bronny James.
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Bronny was selected by the Lakers in the second round of the 2024 draft and, when he made his debut for the team earlier this season, he and LeBron became the first father-son duo ever to play together in the NBA.
And while James took exception to what he perceived as criticism directed at his son by Smith, the outspoken ESPN personality quickly fired back to clarify that his critical remarks were instead aimed at James Snr for the way he has unjustly thrust his eldest offspring into the limelight.
The argument has continued to escalate in the days since the initial exchange of views at Madison Square Garden, where the Knicks play their home games.
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Never one to back down from a debate of any kind, Smith has poured further fuel on the fire with his latest comments.
“It was never about Bronny. I wouldn’t do that to a kid,” Smith said. “It was about his dad, and the things he manoeuvred and manipulated to get his son to wear the same uniform as him.
“The NIL deals. The four-year, $8 million contract. That doesn’t happen for the average 55th overall pick in the second round."
Bronny James has spent most of his time in the G League with the South Bay Lakers, the LA club's developmental team, this season.
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In the NBA, he is averaging 1.4 points from just 4.2 minutes of action per game.