Stephen A. Smith recently opened up about his strained relationship with LeBron James, acknowledging that the two simply don’t like each other.
Despite their differences, Smith made it clear that he still respects LeBron’s legacy as one of the greatest basketball players of all time.
He emphasized that his commentary remains objective, praising LeBron when he performs well and offering criticism when warranted.
The tension between them escalated when LeBron appeared to take issue with something Smith said about his son.
However, Smith believes that the situation was exaggerated and used as a cover for the real issue: their mutual dislike.
In his view, LeBron used the moment as an excuse to confront him, even though the criticism wasn’t directed at his son.
Smith says he understands the motive behind the confrontation and stands by his approach to covering LeBron professionally.
Stephen A. Smith admits that he doesn’t like LeBron James
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) June 18, 2025
“I don’t like him, and he don’t like me. He’s one of the greatest players who’s ever lived. I’m going to show him that respect, and I’m going to cover him objectively. When he does great, I’m gonna applaud. When he… pic.twitter.com/LYJDJf86sg
