Stephen A. Smith has sparked controversy by suggesting that LeBron James' new podcast with JJ Redick, started during the 2023-24 NBA season, contributed to the firing of Lakers head coach Darvin Ham. Smith claims numerous black NBA coaches expressed frustration, believing the podcast hurt Ham's position, especially since Redick, who is white, is now a frontrunner for the Lakers' coaching job. Critics argue that LeBron's collaboration with Redick, a close friend, was ill-timed and potentially undermined Ham's tenure. The backlash on social media includes accusations of Smith injecting racial undertones into the narrative and questioning his consistency in addressing race in sports. Despite the controversy, LeBron and Redick's podcast has received praise for its in-depth basketball discussions.