LeBron James put up a double-double in the Lakers’ overtime win against the Knicks. But his post-game exchange with Stephen A. Smith stole the show. The viral courtside moment had fans buzzing, and on Friday, Smith clarified what went down—James confronted him over comments about Bronny.

According to Smith, LeBron felt his son was being “slighted” after the ESPN analyst suggested Bronny’s spot with the Lakers was largely because of his father. Smith also claimed that being on the same team as LeBron added unwanted pressure on the rookie.

The drama didn’t stop there. During Saturday’s Lakers-Celtics game, cameras caught James chatting with Richard Jefferson, seemingly discussing his run-in with Smith. While the internet ran wild speculating the conversation, LeBron has stayed silent, but not SAS. Smith addressed the situation again on The Stephen A. Smith Show, stating his comments were never about Bronny James – but about LeBron’s actions.

“So, when he sat up there and said, when I’m talking as a dad, right, right? That’s the only thing—that’s the only thing I’m tripping. I don’t give a f— once he talks about you as I plead as a father. I can’t,” Smith stated the words LeBron said to Jefferson.

He reiterated his issue was never with Bronny but with the 21x All-Star’s handling of the situation.

“So it wasn’t about Bronny. It was about him. Those are his words. Once he said as a father, that was about him. Which was my point January 29th. It’s been about you,” stated SAS. Smith also acknowledged that young players take time to develop, agreeing with the 4x MVP’s agent, Rich Paul, on that point.

“The fact of the matter is that there’s plenty of dudes that have come in the second round, and it takes them a couple of years, in some cases longer, to get their bearings under them. He is absolutely right,” Smith admitted.

However, he insisted that this only reinforced his stance on the 4x Champion’s influence.

“But having said all of that, that again buffers my point. It was never about Bronny. I wouldn’t do that to a kid. It was about his dad. And it wasn’t about his dad, even wanting him in the NBA. It’s the things he said. And the things he maneuvered and manipulated in order to get his son to wear the same uniform as him.”

Smith’s comments add another layer to the ongoing debate about LeBron’s role in Bronny’s NBA journey, keeping the discussion far from over. Former ESPN analyst Jason Whitlock has now weighed in, offering his own perspective on why James has changed over the years.

“LeBron played with great joy. He was not this angry person that he has become later in his career,” Whitlock said, comparing James’s early years to the version of him that recently confronted Smith courtside.

Whitlock believes outside influences have shaped James’s identity. Arguing with media figures like Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith has played a defining role in his success.

“LeBron’s spirit is naturally joyful. How did he get here? How did he become the angry god, the desperate god?” Whitlock questioned. “Someone like Skip Bayless and ESPN and Stephen A. Smith—they got to tell LeBron James, like, hey, let me define what success is for you. And we’re going to have that discussion every day on ESPN. And success for you, LeBron, is not attained until you reach Michael Jordan levels of perfection.”

As the fallout from LeBron’s exchange with Smith continues, the conversation has shifted beyond just one confrontation. Whitlock’s take highlights the larger issue—how the media and public expectations have shaped James’ career and persona.

Whether LeBron’s evolution is a response to external pressures or a natural shift with time, one thing is clear: the scrutiny isn’t fading anytime soon, as a footballer also shares his opinion.

Ryan Clark reacts to the Stephen A. Smith-LeBron James beef

Ryan Clark didn’t hold back when weighing in on LeBron James’s viral confrontation with Stephen A. Smith. While he understood LeBron’s instincts as a father, he felt the four-time champ could have handled things differently.

“I’m not LeBron, but I am a father; and I’m willing to die for mine,” Clark said on The Pivot. “I get approaching Stephen A. Smith as a father, but he wasn’t only protecting his seed. He was speaking on behalf of another professional athlete. And Stephen A. is paid to analyze (that’s his job).”

Clark argued LeBron should have checked with Bronny first. “Bron gotta let Bronny be a man,” he added, recalling his own son’s reaction to the situation.

“The first thing Jordan told me was, ‘Pop, I’d lose my s—.’ If someone criticized me and you did what LeBron did, I’d hate it. You gotta let me handle it myself.’”

Clark admitted Bronny deals with an unusual level of scrutiny for a 55th overall pick but pointed out that he also benefits financially. “Bronny made millions in NIL money in college while averaging 4 points per game,” he noted.

At the end of the day, parents naturally want to protect their kids, but in the NBA, it’s on the player—not their parent—to respond. This time, the criticism isn’t on Stephen A.—it’s on LeBron.