Who would’ve guessed the King of hot takes, Stephen A. Smith, would not only upset one goat but two in his lifetime. For the uninitiated, after defeating the Knicks on Thursday, LeBron James didn’t waste any time confronting ESPN’s Stephen A. He had some heated words for the analyst over his coverage of Bronny, making sure his message was loud and clear.

Bronny James’ rookie season has been a hot topic, with plenty of debate over how the Lakers are managing his development. SAS didn’t hold back either. In January, he put the blame on LeBron, claiming the four-time champ was rushing his son into NBA action before he was ready.

But the 21x All-Star is not the only great he has had beef with. As part of his media tour, the veteran ESPN analyst spoke about the incident again on Gil’s Arena, but he also revealed some details about another feud he had with the legend Michael Jordan.

“I remember when Jordan got mad at me one time,” Smith said. “Jordan got mad at me one time, and I literally looked at Michael Jordan. And I said, ‘You know what, f— it—$250,000.’ He said, ‘What?’ I said, ‘Because you want me to be your publicist.’”

Smith made it clear that his job is to cover the game objectively, not to cater to any player’s narrative. “You want me to be somebody covering the damn league. You want me to say what you want me to say—can I do my job?” he recalled telling Jordan.

He emphasized that while players have every right to call out unfair coverage, criticism that stays within the boundaries of the game should be taken as part of the job. “It’s like I’m covering the game. I’m covering the game. Now if you all know the difference, and when a cat crosses the line, s—, y’all would check him in a hobby, and you should,” he said.

Smith’s story is a classic example of what makes him one of the most polarizing figures in sports media. Whether he’s overreacting for the cameras or just doing his job, he never holds back, no matter who’s involved. His ability to stir the pot is exactly why he’s been a staple in NBA coverage for so long (remember his infamous “anonymous” text that questioned Jaylen Brown’s attitude?).

Because if LeBron and MJ weren’t enough, he has clapped back at Kevin Durant too. Yes, the ‘Slim Reaper’!

Stephen A Smith takes on Kevin Durant

Stephen A. Smith didn’t waste time clapping back at Kevin Durant on First Take after the Suns star called him a “clown” and questioned his credibility. The ESPN personality defended his career and took a jab at Durant’s reaction to criticism.

“Respectfully, Kevin Durant is going to have to answer this: Who’s allowed to talk about him?” Smith said.

The tension started when Smith questioned Durant’s leadership on October 24, despite praising the Suns’ roster. Durant responded on X, insisting his intangibles matched his talent. But after a win over Portland, he took it further, telling The Athletic, “I’ve never seen Stephen A. at a practice, or a film session, or a shoot-around… He’s a clown to me. He’s always been a clown.”

Smith wasted no time shutting that down, reminding Durant that they’ve crossed paths plenty of times. “He has seen me in the locker room when he was at OKC, Golden State, and at games throughout his career,” he said. “But I don’t have to be at shoot-around or in the postgame locker room. I have a hit show that’s been No. 1 for 12 years. I have other things to do.”

This isn’t the first athlete-media feud, and it won’t be the last. Smith acknowledged Durant’s greatness but called out his sensitivity. “It’s unfortunate that no matter how old he gets, his sensitivity seems to heighten with it and his maturity doesn’t,” he said. I mean! … yeah, y’all know it best.

Love him or hate him, Smith knows how to keep the conversation going.