Stephen A. Smith Says He Would Have Thrown Hands If LeBron Touched Him: “I Would’ve Swung Immediately!”

What started as a courtside confrontation has now turned into one of the most talked-about rivalries in sports media. The war of words between LeBron James and ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has reached new heights, with Smith now claiming he would have physically retaliated if LeBron had put his hands on him.

The drama erupted after LeBron appeared on The Pat McAfee Show earlier today, where he finally addressed his ongoing feud with Smith. LeBron did not hold back, calling out the veteran sports commentator for constantly making their conflict a public spectacle.

LeBron Calls Out Smith for ‘Taylor Swift Tour’ Media Frenzy

During his appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, LeBron took a direct shot at Smith, accusing him of milking their dispute for attention.

“He couldn’t wait for the video to come out so he could address it,” LeBron said, visibly annoyed by the way Smith has been discussing the situation at every opportunity. He even compared Smith’s relentless media coverage to a Taylor Swift tour, implying that Smith was going on a nationwide press run, using their feud as his headline act.

LeBron made it clear that he has no problem with criticism about his on-court performance. However, when it comes to his family specifically his son Bronny James and that’s where he draws the line.

“Never would I ever not allow people who talk about the sport to criticize players about what they do on the court,” LeBron explained. “But when you take it and get personal with it, it’s my job to not only protect my damn household but protect the players.”

Stephen A. Smith Fires Back: ‘I Would’ve Swung on Him Immediately’

Stephen A. Smith was not about to let LeBron’s comments slide. In a fiery response, Smith made it crystal clear that if LeBron had physically confronted him, things would have escalated into a full-blown altercation.

“If that man would’ve put his hands on me, I would’ve immediately swung on him. Immediately,” Smith declared, leaving no doubt that he was ready for a physical confrontation if necessary.

Stephen A Smith was ready to throw hands with LeBron LOL pic.twitter.com/geilEzBgTC

— Gifdsports (@gifdsports) March 26, 2025

Smith has long been known for his bombastic personality and unapologetic takes, but this statement took things to another level. Sports fans were left stunned at the idea of Smith, a 56-year-old sports analyst, squaring up against one of the most physically dominant athletes in NBA history.

The Origins of the Feud: A Courtside Clash Over Bronny James

This feud didn’t appear out of thin air. It all started when Smith made controversial remarks about Bronny James, suggesting that the young player was only in the NBA because of his father’s influence. LeBron, who has always been fiercely protective of his family, confronted Smith courtside in what quickly became a viral moment.

Smith has since been on a media tour defending his comments, insisting that his critique wasn’t a personal attack but rather an objective analysis of Bronny’s basketball future. LeBron, however, wasn’t having any of it, dismissing Smith’s justification as nothing more than damage control.

“Relax, bro. Like, relax. Like seriously,” LeBron said in his interview, clearly fed up with Smith’s constant chatter.

Will This Feud Ever End?

At this point, it seems like neither LeBron nor Smith is willing to back down. The sports world is watching as this drama continues to unfold, with fans divided on who is in the right.

LeBron appears to be standing firm in his belief that his son’s name should not be dragged through the mud, while Smith insists that he was just doing his job as a sports analyst.

One thing is certain: this battle is far from over, and the next chapter could be even more explosive than the last.