Stephen A. Smith Accuses LeBron James of Decade-Long Feud, Alleged Career Sabotage

Sports commentator Stephen A. Smith and NBA star LeBron James have been publicly at odds, with Smith expressing strong dislike for James and accusing him of orchestrating a confrontation during a Lakers-Knicks game in March. Smith claims the incident was a setup by James, highlighting the suspicious camera angles that focused solely on James confronting him courtside, coinciding with the announcement of Smith's contract renewal with ESPN. The feud appears rooted in Smith's criticism of James' son, Bronny, and Smith alleges James has tried privately to sabotage his career, going so far as to suggest James behaves differently in public versus private. Smith also took offense at James implying that Smith attacked his family, which Smith denies and finds deeply disrespectful. Despite multiple public comments from Smith, James has yet to respond directly to these latest accusations, although he previously stated his protective actions were about defending his family, not about stifling criticism of his on-court performance. The ongoing tension highlights a complex and personal conflict between the sports media figure and the NBA superstar that stretches back over a decade.