Fact Check: Did Lebron James Attend Kobe Bryant’s Memorial and Funeral?

We were all shocked to learn of Kobe Bryant’s untimely demise back in 2020. It was a dark time for the basketball world. But now, 5 years after his passing, Stephen A. Smith has made a bold claim. His feud with LeBron James intensified even further when he questioned James’ presence at the memorial service for Kobe Bryant.

Given the sensitive nature of the subject, yet another controversy was kicked off. Was LeBron James present at Kobe’s funeral and service? Well, let’s find out.

Was LeBron James at Kobe Bryant’s funeral?

Kobe Bryant’s family chose to have a private funeral for the Lakers legend and his youngest daughter, Gianna. They were laid to rest in a private ceremony near their family home in Southern California. Honoring the family’s privacy, LeBron and other players did not attend Kobe Bryant’s funeral. And no one should fault them for that either.

Was LeBron James at Kobe Bryant’s memorial?

Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James’ beef kicked off after a heated confrontation during the Lakers-Knicks game this month. After that, Smith went on-air several times to address the incident, making claims like he’d have swung on LeBron if things got physical. LeBron stayed quiet about all this till his blockbuster appearance on the Pat McAfee show. He poked fun at Stephen A, likening his handling of the issue to a Taylor Swift tour. This appearance must’ve set off Stephen A. Smith, who responded on Thursday’s episode of First Take, saying, “He should be happy with the things that I haven’t brought up. I never brought up why you were not at Kobe Bryant’s memorial service.” 

Well, LeBron James wasn’t seen in any of the official footage or images. But does that truly mean he wasn’ there? Or could it also mean he simply chose to grieve his friend’s passing away from the public eye and cameras? Because well, LeBron James WAS present at Kobe’s memorial service. Sources close to the Lakers have confirmed this as well. Back then, LeBron himself neither confirmed nor denied his presence at the service. James only stated that Bryant’s passing was something that affected him on a personal level.

“I’m heartbroken and devastated my brother!…Man I love you big bro,” wrote LeBron as he addressed the fanbase following Kobe’s passing. Why was he hit so hard by Kobe’s passing? Well, that’s because LeBron and the Lakers legend were really close. And on the same appearance on the Pat McAfee show, LeBron told us how his relationship with Kobe Bryant developed over the years.

“Me and Kobe never had a real relationship either…Until I became a Laker and he retired, that’s when our relationship became really, really, good,” said LeBron. “I got you, you a Laker now, you family,” is what LeBron alleges Kobe told him after the King started donning the Purple and Gold.  And we’ve all seen the clips of LeBron making Kobe laugh like no one else can. It’s clear that despite their competitive natures, the two had love for each other and shared a close bond. And because of that, he chose to grieve his friend’s loss privately during the memorial service.

Little did he know that this decision he made during a difficult time would come back to haunt him in the form of Stephen A. Smith’s shocking allegations. But Stephen A. Smith seems to have realized the mistake he made in bringing up such a sensitive topic. He has since apologized for even broaching the subject.

After all, it also affects the family of the deceased legend, who will hate that this has become a matter of national discussion. The sooner this debate fizzles out, the better. Kobe Bryant died 5 years ago, and we miss him every day. We’re sure LeBron James does too. And his legacy and memory should be treated with respect!