Smith has been involved in a tense battle with James since early March 2025, when the latter addressed him over comments he made about his son on the sideline of a Los Angeles Lakers game.

Since then, Smith and James have thrown jabs at each other online and during media interviews. However, things reached another level when the sports pundit alleged James skipped Kobe Bryant’s funeral, which was proven to be incorrect.

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During a passionate rant on “First Take,” Smith unleashed on James after the latter said he had a problem with how Smith covers the NBA.

“If LeBron James wants to see me continue to cover this sport, or he wants to have a problem with me continuing to cover this sport, I suggest that he be happy with the things that I haven’t brought up,” Smith said.

Later, Smith made a bold claim about James that included Bryant, which took many viewers by surprise.

“I never brought up really and never really discussed why you [LeBron] were not at Kobe Bryant’s memorial service. I never really brought up or discussed why you did not attend Dwyane Wade’s Hall of Fame induction when that man was directly responsible for you capturing a championship for the first time in your career,” he said.

Smith added, “I brought up none of that… But LeBron James, at the end of the day, wants to come at me, and he’s walking around pouting.”

After his comments began circulating online, many slammed Smith for his incorrect statements. According to the Los Angeles Times, James was in attendance, along with other superstar celebrities, including Beyoncé. However, the future Hall of Famer asked not to be photographed out of respect for Bryant and his family.

During Hour 2 of “First Take,” Smith admitted that several people began contacting him to inform him of his mistake. “I didn’t mean to say he [LeBron] wasn’t in the building,” he said. “I was told he was in the building. We saw a whole bunch of players out there. We didn’t see him. Why? Hmmm. I will let him answer that one day if he so chooses.”

Later, Smith discussed his gaffe on X, formerly Twitter, and apologized for making such a claim. “My apologies and clarification. I misspoke in Hour#1 of @FirstTake today when I intimated that LeBron did not attend Kobe Bryant’s memorial. I corrected myself in Hour#2 when I acknowledged he was indeed in attendance.”

Smith admitted he shouldn’t have touched the subject; however, he didn’t retract his other statements. “Have a nice day!” he signed off.

Bryant and NBA fans alike have been reacting to Smith’s comments online, and they’re not happy with the commentator’s choice of words.

“Didn’t realize how evil Stephen A. Smith actually was,” someone wrote. “Tried to bring Kobe’s death into this to make LeBron look bad. Aye, man, LeBron and Kobe’s family should put hands on you.”

Another user chimed in and slammed Smith for being a “classless” individual.

“Stephen A. Smith bringing in anything Kobe related (outside of basketball) to his beef with LeBron, knowing the emotional response it would bring, is just a straight up classless move. No other way around it.”

“Stephen A. Smith’s shameless invocation of Kobe Bryant’s name in the midst of his petty beef with LeBron James was disgusting enough, but the fact that he blatantly lied about it in the process just to prop up some pathetic grift he’s trying to push makes it even more deplorable,” one user wrote.

A second user seemingly agreed, calling Smith “lame as hell.”

“No other way to put it. Bringing up Kobe to spite LeBron is the lamest thing you can do. [And] the lamest part is he did that to try to turn the Laker fanbase against LeBron. Disgusting,” they finished.

James addressed his feud with Smith for the first time during an episode of “The Pat McAfee Show” on ESPN. When asked about the headlines, James poked fun at Smith and said he was on a “Taylor Swift tour run right now.”

“It started off with, ‘I didn’t want to address it. I wasn’t going to address it, but since the video came out, I feel the need to address it,” the NBA champ said.

The father of three continued, “Are you kidding me? If there was one person [who] couldn’t wait for the video to drop, it was your -ss. Like Seriously?”