A day will come when Stephen A. Smith will have a kind word or two for LeBron James. But hey! Good morning, you’ve woken up from that dream. Nothing in the universe could change the ESPN veteran’s mind and dislike for the 40YO Lakers legend. However, Stephen A. seems to be appreciative of JJ Redick and his coaching prowess as a rookie. Yet, there is something odd, that the veteran analyst has found with the hiring process as he feels LeBron played the odd Cupid in this Lakers-Redick lover story.

Stephen A. Smith was all about commending JJ Redick in the latest edition of ESPN’s First Take. “You gotta give our former colleague some love. He’s a coach of the year candidate… They have been the number-one defense over the last seven weeks,” the 57YO analyst mentioned. While speaking of the Lakers or Redick, how could anyone not bring up LeBron’s name? Therefore, Smith’s colleague Molly Qerim asked a simple question: “Should LeBron get some credit for that?”

In all honesty, should the Purple and Gold and the fanbase credit Bron for turning into a defensive All-Star for the team? Or should he get a fair share of credits for JJ’s hiring? Molly took things a step forward and lashed out at Stephen A., who is always critical of the Akron Hammer.

“Should LeBron get some credit for JJ Reddick? Because he got killed for, ‘Hey! We have a podcast together, and he just got the job.’ And it’s essentially nepotism and this and that,” Molly Qerim expressed. She added: “And I’m saying, and now we’re praising him as potentially he’s the Coach of The Year, and we were, like, raking LeBron through the coals for that.” 

Stephen A. Smith isn’t letting LeBron James off the hook. Blaming him for Darvin Ham’s exit and JJ Redick’s hiring, Smith called it “low class.” Why? Because LeBron hosted a podcast with Redick—an “aspiring head coach”—while Ham’s job was already on the chopping block. To Smith, it’s not just about the outcome. “How you do something matters,” and LeBron’s role in pushing Ham out? “That was jacked up.” Even if the Lakers win a championship, Smith firmly blames LeBron for the messy exit—it wasn’t pretty.

Well, for the fans, Stephen A.’s outrage toward Molly Qerim’s jab has united the fans to the same rhythm. The 40-year-old Qerim managed to stir up the veteran, leaving him tangled in his own LeBron James loops. Then what? Fans filled social media with comments, especially for Molly.

Fans side with Molly Qerim as she riled up Stephen A. Smith over LeBron James criticism

Well, Molly Qerim didn’t just ask a question—she served it hot! Fans couldn’t get enough of her bold clap back, with one even admitting, “Lmaooooo Molly cooked on that one I’m not gon lie.” Clearly, she left Stephen A. Smith squirming, and the internet loved every second of it.

For some fans, Stephen A. Smith’s rants always circle back to one thing—himself. One fan called it out, saying, “When you boil it down, it’s always about SAS. All his points come back to him, talking about himself.” No matter the topic, he finds a way to make it personal, and this time, LeBron and JJ’s drama was no different. Classic Stephen A., right?

Lately, Stephen A. Smith just can’t catch a break. One fan summed it up perfectly, saying, “Stephen A has been getting cooked lately.” Whether it’s Molly’s sharp jabs, Gilbert Arenas defending the Lakers star or fans dragging his LeBron takes, the heat is on. And honestly? People are loving every second of it.

Stephen A. Smith may call it “low class,” but fans see it differently. While he blasts LeBron for ‘conspiring’ to hire JJ Redick while Darvin Ham’s job hanging by a thread, some are leaning into the joke. One fan even mocked the narrative, cheering, “Thanks Bron for the hire!!!! LeGM 🐐💪🏽💯.” Whether you call it power moves or backdoor plays, LeBron’s influence is undeniable—and the fans aren’t complaining.

Lastly one of the fans dropped a GIF comment which surely fits the situation:

In the end, Molly Qerim stole the show, leaving Stephen A. Smith flustered and fans cheering. While he slammed LeBron for allegedly conspiring to hire JJ Redick, fans mocked him with LeGM jokes and called him out for making everything about himself. With spicy debates and savage GIFs, the LeBron James drama isn’t cooling down anytime soon.