Stephen A. Smith isn’t one to mince words—he speaks his mind.
On Tuesday morning, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith delivered a passionate monologue addressing a tweet from Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, wherein James requested the media to refrain from speculating about his son Bronny James’s NBA future—a tweet that has since been deleted.
Smith argued that LeBron James bears responsibility for the media’s intense interest in Bronny’s basketball journey, asserting, “This is all his fault—all of it.” He stressed that any attention directed towards Bronny has primarily stemmed from his father’s prominence in the basketball world.
The crux of Smith’s argument lies in LeBron James’s public statements expressing his desire to play alongside his son in the NBA, even suggesting he would consider joining any team that drafts Bronny. According to Smith, this has fueled speculation about potential landing spots for the younger James.
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“This is all his fault—all of it,” Smith said on First Take. “Let me be very delicate, I’m not joking around, I’m not playing. I’m going to be very serious. … When we get to Bronny James, that kid has done nothing but work hard and try to get on this game and all this other stuff. Any attention that he’s warranted has been because of his daddy.”
Smith highlighted Bronny’s collegiate debut for USC, which was delayed due to his recovery from a summer cardiac arrest. Despite this setback, Bronny has shown promise on the court, averaging 5.5 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 20.2 minutes per game since starting in December, including six starts.
In essence, Smith’s critique of LeBron James centers on the unintended consequences of his public declarations regarding Bronny’s NBA aspirations, which have amplified media scrutiny on the young athlete.
