Famed analyst Stephen A. Smith has carried the bad blood of confrontation with LeBron James and made it known that he does not intend to speak with the Lakers' forward "ever again in his life." The two had an ugly fallout during a Lakers' game at the Crypto.com arena. The bone of contention evidently was Smith's comments on Bronny James.
Smith has insisted that Bronny, a Lakers teammate of James', currently belongs in the G League, and that his father was 'exposing' him.
"I am pleading with LeBron James as a father: Stop this,' Smith said on First Take. 'Stop this. We all know that Bronny James is in the NBA because of his dad."
And on a new episode of his eponymous show, Smith defended his previous remarks and shared why he and James 'don't get along.'
"You see, I don't run and hide. If I'm wrong, I'll say I'm wrong. If I'm right, I'll say I'm right,' he said. 'I was never sh***ing on Bronny James. I wouldn't do that to the James family. I was talking about one person, and one person only. We may never speak in life again - I'm fine with it. I get paid to talk about folks - not to them.
"We don't get along. And there's a multitude of reasons why, I've alluded to them. But we know what the biggest reason is. I ain't Shannon Sharpe, it ain't GOAT status this way. My GOAT is Michael Jordan... I watch the game. I'm a student of the game. I know a GOAT when I see one.'
Smith had previously said he didn't feel 'angry' or 'slighted' by James' comments towards him.