Stephen A. Smith has added even more fuel to his ongoing dispute with LeBron James, revealing fresh insights about what may have prompted the Lakers superstar’s intense courtside confrontation during a recent game.

Appearing on Gilbert Arenas’ podcast, Smith opened up about a moment he believes triggered LeBron to approach him over his criticism of Bronny James.

Smith originally shared that LeBron walked up to him at Crypto.com Arena during a timeout in the third quarter when the Los Angeles Lakers hosted the New York Knicks.

According to Smith, LeBron made it clear he wasn’t happy with Smith’s repeated commentary about his son, saying: “You gotta stop talking st about my son. You gotta stop f**king with my son. That’s my son, that’s my son.”

Now, Smith is providing additional context, suggesting that Bronny himself may have sparked LeBron’s response.

“I remember, during a timeout in the first quarter, seeing Bronny, and Bronny looked over at me and he had a sad look on his face,” Smith explained. “And I am imagining, pops [LeBron] saw that s**t. It hit him and he couldn’t hold it and he rolled up on me.”

Smith Stands by His Comments

While Smith acknowledged that LeBron‘s reaction was a display of fatherly protection, he also criticized how and when LeBron chose to handle the issue.

“I thought it was weak, I thought it was some bulls**t. But, in the moment, I knew that I was listening to a father,” Smith said.

He added that although he respects LeBron‘s role as a dad, he believes that as long as Bronny is an active NBA player, he’s subject to analysis and critique like anyone else.

Smith’s remarks about Bronny originally made waves when he publicly urged LeBron to stop pushing his son into the NBA spotlight, arguing Bronny might not be ready for the professional pressure.

LeBron, in turn, seemed to address those concerns in a separate conversation with Richard Jefferson, where he said, “Once he talks about, ‘I’m pleading with you as a father,’ I can’t.”

Reflecting on that exchange, Smith admitted, “I was p**sed when I saw LeBron’s interaction with Jefferson.” He felt that LeBron had personalized Smith’s professional critique, turning it into an issue of parenting rather than basketball analysis.

Still, Smith maintains that his criticisms were never personal. “If Bronny is on an NBA roster, he’s part of the conversation,” Smith emphasized. Yet, the way LeBron reacted shows just how much public scrutiny of Bronny weighs on the family.

As both LeBron and Smith hold firm in their positions, the situation highlights the complex relationship between media, athletes, and family dynamics – especially when a young player like Bronny is trying to navigate the NBA under an enormous spotlight.