Team LeBron or Team Stephen A? Charles Barkley and others weigh in on the heated feud

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The feud between Lakers forward LeBron James and ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith heated up this week. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Time and Allen Berezovsky / Getty Images)

The LeBron James-Stephen A. Smith feud escalated in big way this week.

Soooo … whose side are you on? Before you answer, here’s a quick recap:

In January, Smith used his platform as an ESPN host to issue an on-air appeal to the Lakers superstar about his son and Lakers teammate Bronny James: “I am pleading with LeBron James as a father: Stop this,. … We all know that Bronny James is in the NBA because of his dad.”

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This month James angrily confronted Smith, who was sitting courtside at a Lakers game. Smith didn’t appear to respond but days later said on the “Gil’s Arena” podcast that he thought James’ confrontational move was “weak” and “some bulls—.”

Read more: Stephen A. Smith would’ve ‘swung on’ LeBron James had he touched him. Lakers star trolls him

This week James responded by taking jabs at Smith on ESPN’s “The Pat McAfee Show” … then Smith said on his own podcast that he would have “swung on” James had the 6-foot-9 superstar made contact during their courtside interaction … then James posted a video on Instagram meant to mock the analyst’s fighting skills … and then Smith went on a 15-minute rant about James on “First Take.”

So, yeah, it was a pretty crazy week.

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Still can’t pick a side? Here’s how some NBA experts feel about the matter.

Charles Barkley: There are only losers in this scenario

During an appearance Friday on “The Dan Patrick Show,” Barkley was asked who had a better week, Smith or James? The Hall of Fame player and TNT analyst said he likes both men but “they both had an awful week.”

“I’ve always liked LeBron but him being a bully, it turned me off, Dan,” Barkley said. “But I will say this: Stephen A., the way he reacted was so lame and weak. And Stephen A. is a good dude, man. LeBron, like I say, I blame him for starting the bullying, going on Pat’s show just bullying people. ‘Cause you know LeBron, he’s a control freak. He knows everything he’s doing. He knew when…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/team-lebron-team-stephen-charles-001915559.html

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Publish date : 2025-03-29 00:19:00

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