Stephen A. Smith Reveals Why He Didn’t Confront LeBron James: “It Might Affect My Money”
Stephen A. Smith had just signed a new contract with ESPN when LeBron James confronted him.
ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith revealed his reasons for not confronting LeBron James following their heated exchange during a game between the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks in March 2025. Smith explained that the incident occurred just after ESPN announced his new contract, worth at least $100 million, which made him hesitant to engage in further conflict.
He had confronted James earlier in January after the analyst criticized LeBron and his son Bronny James in January, alleging that they were only pursuing the NBA rookie to appease LeBron. Smith believed LeBron took the comments about Bronny personally, prompting him to confront the NBA superstar to defend his family. However, Smith feared that a physical confrontation could jeopardize his new contract, as he was still under the agreement just days prior.
Despite his frustration, Smith ultimately decided not to pursue the confrontation, stating he was upset but no longer harboring anger towards LeBron. He also defended his initial comments, arguing that LeBron misunderstood their meaning. Now, Smith has moved on and expressed hope that LeBron would achieve success with the Philadelphia 76ers.
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