Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James (Photo by Imagn Images)

Last season, after a regular-season game of the Los Angeles Lakers, LeBron James confronted Stephen A. Smith regarding his harsh criticism of Bronny James. The encounter reportedly fractured their relationship. Smith later admitted that things between him and LeBron were beyond repair.

Now, as a new NBA season approaches, Smith’s feelings toward the four-time NBA champion haven’t softened. The ESPN analyst revisited the feud once again on The Pivot podcast. During the podcast, Smith accused LeBron James of racial double standards and personal attacks. Recently, on the 7PM In Brooklyn podcast, Smith didn’t hesitate to mention the Lakers superstar’s courtside confrontation as a “setup.”

“Let me get to LeBron. I don’t like his ass, not a little bit. You do not understand the lengths this man will go to. This dates back more than a decade. I believe he’s one way publicly; he’s another way privately,” Smith said.

Smith recalled the moment LeBron confronted him courtside, saying it felt like a deliberate attempt to humiliate him. Smith also said the incident felt like one of the most disrespectful moments of his career.

“The day that he rolled up on me courtside, it was the day my contract was announced that I had stayed with ESPN. Go back and look at the camera angle… This is 2025, we got technology everywhere. TNT is a nationally televised game. How is it we got one angle, and the only angle you see was of him and his face, but you see the back of my peanut head?” he added.

Stephen A. Smith Hints LeBron James Tried To End His Career

Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James (Photo By Imagn Images)
Later in the podcast, Smith was asked if LeBron James had ever attempted to get him removed from ESPN’s NBA coverage. Smith carefully avoided giving a direct answer but left a strong hint.

“I’m not going there. Figure it out. Because I’m not going to find myself in a position where it can get uglier. I’m not going to do it, but I’m telling you. It’s some low, low s***,” Smith said.

While Smith continues to speak out about the situation, LeBron remains focused on his recovery from a sciatica injury. The Lakers are set to open their regular season on Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors. But LeBron will reportedly miss the game due to his ongoing injury concerns.

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.