Stephen A. Smith isn’t holding back when it comes to LeBron James. The outspoken ESPN personality has accused the NBA superstar of trying to sabotage his career, claiming their viral confrontation earlier this year was a calculated move meant to undermine him.
During his appearance on 7PM in Brooklyn with Carmelo Anthony on Monday, the First Take host opened up about what really went down during the Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York Knicks game — and the tension behind the scenes.
“I don’t like his ass, not even a little bit,” Smith said bluntly. “You do not understand the lengths this man would go to. This dates back more than a decade. I believe he’s one way publicly and another way privately.”
Smith alleged that LeBron has quietly tried to damage his reputation for years.
“He might not be interviewed and he might not be quoted, but the things he’s said to people — it’s gotten back to me,” Smith continued. “The things he’s tried to do… If it were up to him, I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
Stephen A. Recalls the Viral Courtside Moment
Smith also revisited their viral sideline confrontation from earlier this year, which took place the same day ESPN announced his new contract extension.
“It’s some low, low sh*t,” Smith recalled. “The day he rolled up on me courtside, it was the day my contract was announced — that I had stayed at ESPN. Go back and look at the camera angles. I arrived there in the first quarter. He rolled up on me in the third quarter.”
The veteran broadcaster suggested the entire encounter was staged.
“This is 2025. We’ve got technology everywhere. TNT is a nationally televised game. How is it we got one angle — and the only angle you see is of him and his face?” he questioned, before concluding: “I felt set up.”
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A Decade-Long Feud
Smith and LeBron’s complicated relationship has long been a topic of speculation. While the analyst has often praised James as one of the greatest players in NBA history, he’s also been one of his harshest critics.
Their interactions over the years have alternated between professional respect and pointed tension — but this latest revelation marks one of Smith’s most direct accusations yet.
