“You gotta stop f–ng with my son.” That was LeBron James’ fiery response when ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith criticized Bronny James’ performance with the Lakers. And just like that, one of the NBA’s hottest debates erupted. LeBron and Smith are now locked in a public feud over how the four-time NBA champ has managed his 20-year-old son’s basketball career. The tension simmered for months but boiled over when LeBron confronted Smith at Madison Square Garden during the Lakers-Knicks game. Now, LeBron’s former teammate and close friend Dwyane Wade has stepped in to share his thoughts.

In January, Smith openly expressed his views on ESPN. “I am pleading with LeBron James as a father: Stop this, stop this. We all know that Bronny James is in the NBA because of his dad.” Certainly, a bold statement, don’t you think? To understand his perspective, consider the following. In over 15 games this season, Bronny averaged just 1.4 points per game on 25% shooting. By NBA standards, that’s rough. Smith’s argument? Bronny wouldn’t be in the league without LeBron’s influence. And James chose Madison Square Garden, basketball’s biggest stage to fire back. With the NBA world buzzing over the incident, former stars and close friends of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Carmelo Anthony, were quick to weigh in.

In a recent episode of 7PM in Brooklyn, Carmelo Anthony, and Dwyane Wade, the duo addressed the ongoing feud between LeBron and Stephen. Host Kazeem Famuyide promptly asked Wade for his perspective on LeBron’s heated reaction. Wade’s response? Surprisingly neutral. “No, I haven’t talked to him about it,” he admitted, suggesting he had stayed out of the drama. Carmelo Anthony, however, doubled down in support of LeBron. He backed LeBron’s stance, saying, “It’s about time. It’s not just about Stephen, it’s just people need to see that energy.” His point? LeBron’s frustration wasn’t just about one analyst’s critique, it was about a larger issue of people constantly questioning Bronny’s place in the NBA.

But the real mic-drop moment came when Carmelo revealed what LeBron personally told him. “Leave my son out of this, my ni–a, it’s simple.” No long explanations, just a direct and raw statement from a father protecting his son. Now, the question is, will Stephen A. Smith back off? Or is this just the beginning of an even bigger showdown? Given Smith’s history, he’s unlikely to let this issue rest. So, we’ll have to wait and see how this plays out. Did you know while Wade admitted he hadn’t called LeBron about it, he didn’t hesitate to stand by his friend?

Dwyane Wade low-key rides for LeBron James in Stephen A. Smith beef

When TMZ Sports caught up with Dwyane Wade in New York City on March 11, they didn’t even have to ask twice. The 43-year-old made it clear, he’s got LeBron’s back. After all, this is the same guy he won two titles with in Miami. And if it were his family under fire? He wouldn’t have thought twice about stepping up. “I would have walked up on him the same way,” Wade told TMZ, making it clear he would’ve handled it just like LeBron did.

The next morning on First Take, Stephen A. Smith attempted to cool things down. “That wasn’t a basketball player confronting me, that was a father,” he admitted. He understood where LeBron was coming from but wished the whole thing had happened in private. But if one continues to get under your skin all the time, you can’t really expect him to be chivalrous, can you?

Wade fully supports LeBron’s public stance. He went even further, arguing that LeBron, as the NBA’s all-time leading scorer, deserves a prime-location statue. Loyalty runs deep, and Wade isn’t switching sides anytime soon.

With Stephen A. Smith unlikely to back down and LeBron standing firm in his defense of Bronny, this controversy could reshape how the media discusses second-generation athletes. Should analysts tread more carefully when discussing family dynamics, or is this fair game in today’s sports world?