Stephen A. Smith Says He's 'Sad' After 'Fiery' LeBron James Confrontation: 'I Didn’t Anticipate It'

Stephen A. Smith revealed that his recent confrontation with LeBron James left him “sad.” 

On a recent episode of his podcast, Smith addressed his feelings about James having a word with him about his past criticism of his son Bronny.

“I get people that have said to me that I’m looking pretty damn sad. I fessed up, I am — because something like that is not something that should make any of us comfortable,” said Smith. I didn’t anticipate it. I don't know why I didn’t anticipate it, but I don't blame LeBron James.” 

“That wasn’t a basketball player talking to me, that was a dad,” Smith continued. “For him to confront me, obviously it was something he was incredibly passionate about. What better motivation could it be than to be protective of his son. I understand it, I respect it as a parent. I'm a parent of two daughters, and in all honesty I couldn’t definitively tell you that If I were LeBron James I wouldn’t have done the same thing.”

While Smith relayed that he understood James’ frustration, he did, however say that he would have handled the confrontation differently. “I would have hoped that I would have picked up the phone and called the person instead, or seen that person face to face rather than walk up to me in the middle of a game,” Smith added.

James confronted Smith during the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers game on Thursday, Mar 6. James approached Smith who was near the court and gave him a stern talking to about the way that the sports analyst spoke about his son. 

Smith previously addressed the situation on First Take and said he couldn't repeat James' words "because they ain't suited for FCC airwaves."

"It was a one-on-one confrontation," said Smith. "That wasn't a basketball player confronting me, that was a parent, that was a father. And I can't sit here and be angry, or feel slighted by LeBron James in any way in that regard. ... He clearly took exception to some of the things that he heard me say and he confronted me about it."

As always, the internet responded to the whole thing with jokes. Head this way to check some of them out. NBA fans were also delighted to learn that Larry David was sitting next to Smith at the Lakers and Knicks game, which, of course, prompted more jokes.