Stephen A Smith Warns LeBron James’ Lakers Ahead Of Celtics Clash Amid Courtside Confrontation Controversy

The Los Angeles Lakers (40-21) and Boston Celtics (45-18) are set to reignite the greatest rivalry in NBA history on March 8, 2025, at TD Garden. Both teams are sitting as the No. 2 seeds in their conferences, and while that alone makes this game a must-watch, this is about way more than just standings. This is about legacy. About proving who’s got the firepower to make a title run. About sending a message. And if you ask Stephen Smith, Boston is coming for blood.

“This could be a preview of the NBA Finals,” Smith said. “Both of them are No. 2 seeds. Both of them have a crew enough to knock off the No. 1 seed. And it’s the greatest rivalry in the history of the sport.”

The last time these two met, the Lakers stole a win in Boston. And you better believe the Celtics haven’t forgotten. They’ve got a championship lead to protect, pride on the line, and—let’s be real—this game is personal. But there’s another layer to all this. LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith’s courtside confrontation over Bronny James has turned this matchup into must-watch TV.

January 23, 2025. The Lakers walked into Boston and stunned the Celtics. LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Austin Reaves each dropped 20+, and just like that, the Lakers silenced TD Garden, completely out of sync. They finished with just 16 and 17 points, numbers that simply can’t happen again if Boston wants to even the score.

“You don’t expect that to happen to Boston,” Smith emphasized. “A second go-around, [Payton] Pritchard has stepped it up. Derrick White has stepped it up. We know Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown want to answer the call because everybody’s been talking about LeBron and Luka.”

One thing is clear—the Celtics have an edge from deep. They lead the league with 17.9 made threes per game, shooting 37.2% from beyond the arc. But the Lakers? They’ve been on fire. They’ve won eight of their last ten, putting up nearly 115 points per game while dominating on the glass and locking in on defense.

And let’s not forget the bigger picture. The Lakers have 16 championships, and the Celtics have 18. Boston doesn’t want to give L.A. a chance to catch up, and a win here would send a powerful statement heading into the playoffs.

LeBron James vs. Stephen Smith: The Courtside Confrontation Over Bronny

While the game itself has fans buzzing, the LeBron-Smith drama is the extra spice no one saw coming.

Last week, in the middle of the Lakers’ overtime win against the Knicks, LeBron walked right up to Stephen A. courtside and let him have it. The moment went viral. Everyone saw it. And while the cameras didn’t pick up every word, one thing was clear—LeBron was not happy.

His words? “Keep my son out of this s—, bro.” Stephen A. knew right away—this wasn’t just a casual chat. “That wasn’t a basketball player confronting me,” Smith explained. “That was a parent. That was a father.”

So what set LeBron off? Stephen Smith’s recent comments about Bronny James. A few days earlier, Smith made it clear—he thinks Bronny still needs time in the G League before he’s ready for the NBA.

“We love what we’re seeing from [Bronny] in the G League,” Smith had said. “Because that’s where you belong, as you hone your skills and you get better and you legitimately earn [your spot].” LeBron wasn’t having it. And while Smith understands the frustration from a father’s perspective, he’s not backing down.

“I get paid to call it like I see it,” Smith said. “What I was saying about LeBron is fact-based. Because of what he said. Because of the things he’s said about his son being in the NBA with him.” This isn’t the first time these two have clashed, either. Just last week, they had a heated exchange about who the real “face of the NBA” is.

The Celtics want revenge. The Lakers want to keep their momentum rolling. The rivalry is alive, the stakes are sky-high, and when that ball tips off, the entire basketball world will be watching.

And with the LeBron vs. Stephen A. drama only adding to the intensity, this one is going to feel like a playoff game before the playoffs even begin.