Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James (Photo by Kirby Lee/Imagn Images) and LeBron James (Photo by Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)
The 2024-25 regular NBA season witnessed a tense back-and-forth between LeBron James and veteran ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith. The friction came to the surface when LeBron publicly confronted Smith over his comments on Bronny James’ career. The confrontation added fuel to an already strained relationship that has shown no signs of healing.

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Stephen A. Smith openly discussed his feelings about LeBron James. Speaking with unapologetic clarity, Smith admitted that there is mutual dislike between them.

“I don’t like him, and he don’t like me. He’s one of the greatest players who’s ever lived. I’m going to show him that respect, and I’m going to cover him objectively. When he does great, I’m gonna applaud. When he doesn’t do great, I’m not gonna applaud,” Smith said.
Stephen A. Smith (Photo via Tommy Gilligan/Imagn Images)

Smith also addressed the incident involving Bronny James. He claimed that LeBron twisted the situation.

“He hid behind his son, tried to make something out of nothing, as if I was dogging his son, which I was not. The real issue was we don’t like each other. And he used that as an excuse to confront me. I got it,” he added.

Stephen A. Smith Slams LeBron James’ Take on Championship Obsession

LeBron James (Photo by Jesse Johnson/Imagn Images)
On a recent episode of his podcast Mind the Game, LeBron questioned the NBA’s fixation on ring culture, calling it “weird.” On First Take, Stephen A. Smith dismissed LeBron’s comments. He asserted that the pursuit of championships is and always has been central to NBA greatness.

“If [winning a championship] didn’t mean much or shouldn’t mean much. Why were you so relieved to finally have one? Why did you depart Cleveland to go to Miami?” Smith said.

LeBron moved to Miami in 2010 to form a superteam with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh for a championship ring with the team. Hence, like many, Smith also believes championships remain the ultimate proof of a player’s impact.

Luka Doncic ‘destroys’ the Mavs on his return. Gets standing ovation and shows love to Mark Cuban

Luka Doncic hits 45 points in his first game in Dallas since being traded to the Los Angeles.

It’s rare for a home crowd to cheer the visiting team, but Luka Doncic’s return to Dallas was no ordinary night.

Just days before February’s trade deadline, the Mavericks shocked the NBA by sending their 26-year-old superstar to the Lakers—a move that outraged fans and sparked backlash toward GM Nico Harrison.

On Wednesday, Doncic played his first game back in Dallas since the trade. The arena was filled with fans in both his old Mavs and new Lakers jerseys, many chanting “Fire Nico” in protest.

Despite the emotion in the air, Doncic delivered a dominant performance, scoring a game-high 45 points to lead the Lakers to a 112-97 win. It was a powerful return for one of the league’s brightest stars—and a night Dallas won’t soon forget

The Mavericks pay tribute to Luka Dončić

While the Mavericks’ decision to trade Luka Doncic remains heavily criticized, they handled his return to Dallas with undeniable grace. The organization made sure his first game back as a Laker was met with respect and appreciation.

Every seat in the arena was draped with a T-shirt reading “Hvala za vse,” which translates from Slovenian to “thank you for everything.” It was a thoughtful nod to Doncic’s heritage and impact on the franchise.

Before tip-off, during the starting lineup announcements, the Mavericks played a tribute video showcasing some of Doncic’s most iconic moments in a Dallas jersey. The emotional gesture clearly resonated—moving Doncic to tears in front of the crowd that once called him their own.

Luka Doncic ‘DESTROYS’ his old team

Luka delivered a dazzling performance against his former team, putting up 45 points on 16-of-28 shooting, including 7-of-10 from beyond the arc. He also added 8 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals in a game that showed exactly why he’s one of the best in the league.

From the opening tip, Doncic was locked in. By halftime, Doncic had racked up 31 points on 11-of-16 shooting in just 19 minutes—marking the 10th time in his career he’s scored 30 or more in a single half.

Though his scoring slowed in the second half, he continued to lead effectively, securing both a Lakers win and an unforgettable showing for the fans in Dallas.