LeBron James’ courtside confrontation with Stephen A. Smith has sparked debate, with former NBA player Gordon Hayward weighing in on the incident.
“I think we all have moments where we want to confront the talking heads… but, I would never do that in public like that,” Hayward said on FanDuel TV’s Run It Back. “I don’t think that’s the time or place to do something like that.”
Smith recently revealed on Gil’s Arena that James approached him during a timeout in the third quarter of a game, demanding that he stop making comments about Bronny James. The analyst said he was caught off guard when LeBron insisted, “You got to stop talking sh*t about my son.”
Smith acknowledged James’ emotions as a father but criticized the way he handled the situation, calling it “weak” and “emotional.” He added that he never intended to discuss the incident publicly until it went viral, prompting ESPN executives to push him to address it.
Smith clarified that his comments were never about Bronny personally but rather about LeBron’s public handling of his son’s career. He pointed to the Lakers star’s previous remarks, including his statement that he would play for any team that drafted Bronny, as a factor that placed unnecessary pressure on him.
The confrontation has drawn mixed reactions, with some players, including Draymond Green, reportedly unhappy with Smith’s stance. Smith also expressed frustration after LeBron later downplayed the incident in a conversation with Richard Jefferson, claiming it misrepresented their exchange.
Bronny James was selected by the Lakers with the 55th pick in the 2024 NBA Draft and has seen limited playing time, averaging 1.4 points in 4.2 minutes per game. However, he has excelled in the NBA G League, averaging 17.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game for the South Bay Lakers.
