Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James have no relationship at all. In fact, neither shows interest in making contact. Why? Their fallout started earlier this year after a dispute between the sports commentator and the Los Angeles Lakers star.
Since then, Smith has only mentioned LeBron strictly in NBA-related contexts. Reconciliation seems impossible, and Smith explained why.
A feud that refuses to fade
According to the New York Post, Smith appeared Friday on Gilbert Arenas’ podcast “Gil’s Arena.” There, he confirmed that his relationship with James is completely nonexistent and he doesn’t want to speak with him again.
“There’s no situation and no relationship… He doesn’t like me, and I don’t like him.”
Smith and James clashed earlier this year on ESPN with heated exchanges, and later confronted each other in person during an NBA game in March.
Smith added: “People don’t know the things that happened behind the scenes… Things that were said, to whom they were said, and the kind of actions taken in an effort to hurt me, along with peers and others.”
He also criticized the way James approached him on The Pat McAfee Show, which airs right after First Take on ESPN.
“There are many things I don’t say. But there’s a reason I feel the way I do. The breaking point came when he twisted my comments about Bronny into an attack on someone’s family, when I was clearly talking about him, not Bronny.”
Smith continued: “And then to go on The Pat McAfee Show, which airs right after my program, on my network, just to insult me? People can dissect the details however they want. I have nothing more to say.”
No smear campaign against LeBron
Still, Smith made it clear that he won’t launch a smear campaign against James.
“I’ll never disrespect an employer, a partner, or myself by going overboard or unnecessarily attacking him or anyone else. I’ll do my job. I’ll cover basketball. But if I never, ever speak to him again in my life, that’s fine. I’m at peace with that.”
