Stephen A. Smith has once again reignited his feud with LeBron James, as he claimed that the Los Angeles Lakers star rarely criticizes “white” analysts who form an opinion of him
Joseph McBride US Sports Reporter
12:36 ET, 20 Oct 2025Updated 12:46 ET, 20 Oct 2025
Stephen A. Smith has called out LeBron James in the latest chapter of their beef.(Image: © 2022, Pasadena Star-News/SCNG)
ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith has accused LeBron James of treating media personalities differently, claiming he seldom criticizes “white” individuals who voice opinions about him.
Smith has previously been critical of James, but found himself confronted by the NBA superstar following the Los Angeles Lakers’ overtime victory against the New York Knicks last season. Before their encounter, Smith had discussed LeBron’s son, Bronny, on ESPN’s First Take.
The commentator was harsh in his assessment of Bronny James’ rookie campaign, and also suggested that he should be playing in the NBA G League. Smith now alleges that LeBron James avoids confronting “white” analysts, claiming there are double standards at play.
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During a recent guest spot on The Pivot Podcast, Smith discussed James with ESPN’s Ryan Clark. Their recent dispute has been rekindled, despite Smith’s earlier efforts to downplay any notion of animosity between himself and the Lakers icon.
“You ever see LeBron go at a white boy? Let’s call it what it is,” Smith said. “You ever see him do that? You saw him come at me.
“The closest you ever came to seeing him do something like that was when he called out Brian Windhorst. That’s the only time you ever seen LeBron really go at somebody white. I’m just calling it what it is.”
James confronted Windhorst on The Pat McAfee Show, after the NBA journalist implied that he joined Nike due to Michael Jordan’s connection. “What you calling Brian Windhorst for? The man covered you since Junior High School and has praised you repeatedly,” Smith added.
“And you used the Pat McAfee situation to go at him. And that’s the only time you see LeBron James really go at somebody white. I’m gonna call it what it is.”
James defended his decision to sign with Nike, claiming that his motive was financial, and nothing to do with Jordan. “He (Windhorst) went on a show like, ‘Don’t let LeBron fool you. He wears No. 23 because of Michael Jordan.’ Okay, that’s a fact,” James said to Pat McAfee.
LeBron James has been protective of Bronny since he joined the NBA.(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
“(Windhorst said), ‘He signed with Nike because of Michael Jordan.’ It’s like, no, the f— I didn’t. I signed with Nike because they gave me a hell of a signing bonus; I moved my momma out of the hood the next day I signed that contract.”
James’ beef with Smith was more personal, as the ESPN pundit made multiple remarks about Bronny James following his draft selection by the Lakers. Smith was approached by LeBron, with the Lakers superstar eager to shield his son from the national media spotlight.
Smith downplayed the on-court confrontation, and said during an episode of First Take: “That wasn’t a basketball player confronting me. That was a parent, that was a father. I can’t sit here and be angry or feel slighted by LeBron James in any way in that regard.
“By all accounts, he’s obviously a wonderful family man and a wonderful father who cares very, very deeply about his son. Based on some of the comments that he had heard, or shall I say I think he thought he heard, clearly took exception to some of the things he heard me say and he confronted me about it.”