A heated media firestorm has erupted over Stephen A. Smith’s controversial take on Bronny James, forcing NBA fans and analysts to weigh in. With Rachel Nichols stepping into the fray and LeBron himself confronting the issue, this debate has escalated beyond basketball, turning into a discussion on media responsibility and family boundaries
Sports Illustrated quickly covered the controversy, highlighting its growing traction among NBA analysts. Nichols made her stance crystal clear, stating that Stephen A.’s criticism just didn’t make much sense to her. “I don’t know if Stephen A. was trying to say that, like, as a father you should be more protective or looking out for your son more,” she said. But whatever the First Take host meant to convey, Nichols firmly insisted, “That doesn’t make any sense.” Is it just her take on the matter, or is the columnist being biased after the bitter split she had with ESPN? Well, one never knows but she did offer an explanation to back her view.
Nichols reiterated that the league cannot fully compensate LeBron for his contributions. However, she noted that his 20-year-old son, Bronny, is currently a ‘passable’ player. While he’s performing well in the G League, the NBA hasn’t yet seen the best of him. Still, Stephen A.’s criticism seemed a bit too much “But to pretend the 12th guy at the end of the bench on any of these teams, they’re taking a job away from someone. I mean, it’s just, it’s very dramatic,” she said.
“And if LeBron James wants to play with his son, and his son is not the level of a basketball player, he is obviously a G-League level player. I mean, he’s not off the street, and that I just, I don’t see anything wrong with it. And I would never, quote, make that plea, and I didn’t even understand that plea at the time because it didn’t make sense to me.”
The roots of the issue between the 40-year-old and Stephen A. trace back to the latter’s comments on his First Take show, where he said, “I am pleading with LeBron James as a father, stop this. Stop this. We all know that Bronny James is in the NBA because of his dad.” Since reports emerged about Bronny’s draft potential, ESPN personality consistently criticized him. However, LeBron never responded—until now. What really irked him was when the question turned to his fatherhood.
Oct 28, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Los Angeles Lakers guard Bronny James (9) with his father, forward LeBron James (23) before playing against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Allegedly, LeBron wanted to meet in person to discuss the issue, but Stephen A. didn’t agree. So, when LeBron saw him during the Knicks game, he didn’t hesitate to walk over and clear the air.
Nichols criticized Smith for his public approach, arguing that a private discussion would have been more appropriate. However, she also acknowledged that controversy is a core part of Smith’s brand. “Stephen A. often works out of the studio literally across from Staples Center. He could have walked across any of those nights and faced LeBron James. But he clearly hasn’t been going into the Lakers’ locker room, because if he had, then this confrontation would have happened, not with a bunch of fans and cell phone cameras,” she added. At least, that’s how she would have handled the situation.
Nichols went further to expose Smith and his tactics, stating, “But Stephen A’s business is creating controversies, and he’s gotten obscenely rich over creating controversies. You cannot say it has not been a winning formula for him. So to kind of be on his side, I don’t know if it was intentional, but not accidental.”
While Nichols’ position was somewhat expected in this matter, what wasn’t expected was the surprising support that came for LeBron James.
LeBron James receives support from the least expected personality
Among the many joining Team LeBron in this overly dramatic situation, Ric Bucher is one of them. Shocking, right? Well, the FS1 analyst may not agree with LeBron James being an “All-time Lakers great,” but this time, he’s backing the 21-time All-Star.
On The Doug Gottlieb Show, the host asked Bucher to weigh in. He broke it down, explaining where things went south. “They perceive it as a sports commentator, or someone in the media overstepping their bounds — making something that wasn’t about sport, making it personal,” he pointed out. “Maybe doing it for attention and clicks as opposed to being genuine commentary.”
Bucher clarified that it all started with Bronny’s potential on the hardwood but ultimately ended with a plea that raised eyebrows about LeBron’s capabilities as a father. “Let’s take a step back. Think about LeBron James and his history and the fact that he didn’t grow up with a dad. And by all accounts, [he] wants to be the dad he never had, he wants to be a good dad to his kids,” he opened up about LeBron’s difficult childhood. “And Stephen A. was basically saying publicly, ‘You’re not being a good dad to your son, and I’m going to pull you up on that. I’m going to tell you about how you should be a good father to your son.’ And that’s where it went out of bounds.”
Raised by a single mother, the 4x champion determinedly sought to provide his children with what he never had. And making a remark about that only made things worse for Smith.
— Ric Bucher (@RicBucher) March 12, 2025
“I don’t think it was genuine. I thought it was theater,” Bucher further declared. “And when you get into something that means as that to LeBron James, he’s going to say something and other players are going to look at it in the same way, ‘You’re talking about my family. You’re not talking about an NBA player now.’”
According to the veteran analyst, since Stephen A. dragged LeBron James the father into the conversation, he got exactly what the NBA community witnessed last week– a cold confrontation with the Lakers’ forward.
This saga highlights a growing tension in sports media: the fine line between critique and personal attack. While Stephen A. thrives on controversy, his remarks touched a nerve within the NBA community, forcing a conversation about ethical boundaries in player commentary. With LeBron’s career winding down, this may not be the last time personal narratives overshadow on-court performance.
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