Richardson Jefferson Confirms Stephen A. Smith’s Worrying Position As Tension Mounts At ESPN Over Bronny James

Is it just us or even you feel LeBron James is quite defensive when it comes to his kids? There’s a reason. While the King may have everything in the world right now, there’s one thing he didn’t get — the love of a father. Mama Gloria raised him single-handedly into the man he is today, and there was no shortage of love from her. But did he feel the absence of a father figure? Maybe, maybe not? But like any parent, LeBron wanted to give his kids the same what he never had. But then Stephen A. Smith questioned his role as a father. That tipped him off. The result? A LeBron James vs Stephen A. Smith confrontation last week at the Crypto.com Arena. And immediately, sides were taken. While podcasts and media have shared their opinions, the true feelings of the NBA world are now out in the open.

It was just another day, another show, with the same topic coming up. The only difference was how most felt about Stephen A. Smith’s infamous plea, which is the root of the issue. On the Road Trippin’ show, Richard Jefferson shared, “When you start pleading to someone as a father, that takes it to a different space, right? And I think that was a point that I think has been made by multiple people, even in the moment, even in the moment when it happened and was said months ago, right? That I think a lot of people around the league felt a certain way about that. Can we say this? Let’s just be, let’s just keep this line.” 

According to the NBA player-turned-analyst, many believed that when Stephen A. Smith brought LeBron, the father, into the conversation, the tone naturally changed, and not everyone felt comfortable with it, as it crossed the line. “I am pleading with LeBron James as a father, stop this,” the host said earlier on First Take. “Stop this. We all know that Bronny James is in the NBA because of his dad.”And that one dig is the mother of all issues. The Lakers’ number 23 was again caught justifying his act with Jefferson at TD Garden. “That’s the only thing I’m tripping,” “I don’t give a f***. Once he talks about, ‘I’m pleading (to) you as a father,’ I can’t.” said the 40-year-old player to his former teammate. So when Jefferson came to the sh0w with a suggestion for Stephen A., he knew what he was saying. But was it the first time the analyst got personal with the Lakers legend?

This wasn’t the first time Smith tried to suggest that LeBron had ruined his son’s career by getting him into the league. Critical analysis is a part of Stephen A. Smith’s job, but it’s only fair when it stays on the court and not in players’ personal lives. His comments could also lead to some potential tensions within the media house.

Kendrick Perkins makes a request to LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith

Kendrick Perkins has known LeBron James for a long time and is certainly aware that Stephen A. Smith and LeBron “don’t like each other.” But he also claimed that he has never seen “Bron get out of character like that.” As much as he would have liked to side with his ESPN colleague, this time, even he disagreed with the whole Bronny incident.

“I really wish everybody, including LeBron, just let f——- Bronny be,” Perk said on the show. Realizing the pressure that the whole drama has created on the 20-year-old, the ex-NBA star added, “Like, seriously, that dude’s got so much pressure on him, and I’m talking about even Stephen A., like, even talking about the situation just brings so much attention to that young man. And guess what? He’s a great young man. Like, great character, fun, like, plays f——- video games all day, cool, works hard.”

It’s just not Stephen A. Smith’s ESPN colleagues who have pointed out that he overdid it. Some have even called it his strategy for success, creating controversies. But he himself admitted that, though his relationship with LeBron hasn’t been great, he understands his side from a father’s point of view. Yet, he hasn’t stopped talking about it, and it looks like this discussion isn’t going to end anytime soon. What do you think? Let us know in the comments below, whose side are you on!