A packed Crypto.com arena. The biggest name in basketball. The loudest voice in sports media—silent. When LeBron James stormed up to Stephen A. Smith and unleashed a heated, expletive-laced rant with regards to his son, the ESPN analyst had nothing to say. He just stood there and took it. Perhaps not wanting to be in a similar position, Charles Barkley is taking all the necessary precautions.
Well, it all started when Barkley doubted the reported reason behind LeBron flying back to LA instead of taking a trip to Milwaukee for last night’s game. As per Jared Greenberg, the injured star wanted to avoid multiple flights, including the one to the high altitude of Denver for tonight’s clash, as it could slow down his recovery. Scoffing at the idea, Chuck said on Inside the NBA, “Come on, man. He wasn’t gonna play anyway… He stayed in New York cause it is New York. He didn’t wanna go to Milwaukee cause it’s Milwaukee. That’s why he flew back home. Stop it, man!… Got nothing to do with elevation and all that other stuff.”
However, later during the show, Charles Barkley decided to tone down the LeBron criticism, almost like protecting himself from the potential consequences. “You gotta be careful talking about LeBron. I don’t want him running up on me. LeBron, get well soon. We love you LeBron. I don’t want you whooping my a– or anything. In the stadium. Ain’t never worth getting your a– beat up in front of 20,000 people,” he stated.
Yes, the Hall of Famer did not want to risk getting publicly humiliated by LeBron like Stephen A. Smith was during the Lakers vs Knicks game. When Barkley was asked if he would just stand there and take it like the ESPN analyst did, he hilariously replied, “You might have to.” Of course, Chuck was just having some fun and being his unfiltered self like he always does. But his comments highlighted LeBron’s frustration toward Stephen A.
Stephen A. Smith calls LeBron James’ move “Weak”, claims he did “This S—!”
Although the ESPN veteran was initially taken aback by James’ sudden verbal assault and didn’t respond on the court, he has revealed his stance multiple times since then. During his recent appearance on Gilbert Arenas’ podcast, Stephen A. addressed LBJ’s move, “I thought it was weak, I thought it was some bulls—. But, in the moment, I knew that I was listening to a father.”
He continued, “That wasn’t a basketball player confronting me. That was a parent, that was a father. I can’t sit here and be angry or feel slighted by LeBron James in any way in that regard.” Of course, James was frustrated because he was concerned about Bronny.
However, in another recently leaked audio of a conversation between him and Richard Jefferson, James can be heard saying, “Once he talks about: ‘I’m pleading you as a father,’ I can’t.” Obviously, referring to Smith’s comment questioning LeBron as a parent for using his influence to boost Bronny’s career, “I am pleading with LeBron James, as a father: Stop this! Stop this!”
LEAKED Audio Of LeBron James Talking About The Stephen A Smith Confrontation:
“Once he talks about: ‘I’m pleading you as a father,’ I can’t” pic.twitter.com/RJhi7gxuSa
— LegendZ (@legendz_nba) March 10, 2025
Once Stephen A. heard James’ confession to RJ, he was not too thrilled about it. “I thought that he misrepresented the argument, I was glad he did. Because what he was really talking about, which was confirmed with his conversation with Richard Jefferson, is that I was talking about him as a father. Had he said that to me, I wouldn’t have been thrown off. I would’ve came right back at him — ‘Yes I was, I was talking about you, you did this s—.”
Maybe he can tell it to LeBron the next time they see each other. However, it seems highly unlikely after witnessing the way he responded the first time. What are your thoughts?
The post Afraid of Humiliation, Charles Barkley Protects Himself From LeBron James’ Frustrations After Stephen A. Smith Fiasco appeared first on EssentiallySports.