Stephen A. Smith says he doesn’t like LeBron James, claims he lives a double life

Stephen A. Smith finally said what a lot of people have been thinking for years, saying LeBron James might be the most image-controlled athlete on the planet. and this time, it wasn’t a hot take or a First Take segment for ratings. It was personal.

On Carmelo Anthony’s 7PM in Brooklyn podcast, Stephen A. let it fly. Again, this wasn’t a First Take segment for ratings, it was unfiltered and a look into LeBron James from a very unique and respected perspective.

WATCH: Stephen A. Smith Goes Nuclear on LeBron James

"I don't like his ass." @stephenasmith doesn't hold back on LeBron James 😳 pic.twitter.com/LvAzAs1BYv
— 7PM in Brooklyn (@7PMinBrooklyn) October 20, 2025

“He acts one way privately, one way publicly,” Stephen A. said. “If it were up to him, I wouldn’t be where I am today. It’s some low, low sh*t.”

Well shit, that certainly doesn’t sound like banter now does it? In fact, that sounds more like resentment that’s been simmering for a while, but has now boiled over onto the airwaves.

The Bronny Comments That Lit the Fuse

This all started when Stephen A. said what 99% of NBA fans already know — Bronny James being on the Lakers has a lot more to do with his last name than his film from USC.

LeBron didn’t like that. Instead of clapping back directly, he ran to The Pat McAfee Show and did the “I’m protecting my family” thing.

Stephen A. Smith called it out perfectly:

“Be a man and say, ‘I don’t like Stephen A.’ But nah, ‘I have to protect my family’? That’s the narrative you’re playing?”

He’s right. LeBron loves to posture like he’s above all the noise, like he’s this Zen basketball monk who ignores drama. The second someone questions him, he plays the victim card. It’s a pattern and frankly, it’s exhausting.

Melo’s Podcast Turned Into a Therapy Session

Carmelo Anthony clearly wasn’t ready for this one. You could practically see the panic set in mid-interview. He probably thought they’d talk Olympics, banana boat jokes, maybe some Knicks nostalgia. Instead, he’s sitting across from Stephen A. unloading 20 years of LeBron-related trauma.

At one point, Stephen A. even said:

“Me and Melo are close, but him and LeBron are like family.”

You can almost hear Melo thinking, “Dawg, I just wanted to plug my podcast.”

The LeBron PR Machine Never Stops

I think there’s a growing sentiment that everything LeBron James does feels calculated. Every quote, tweet, and “random” locker room photo somehow doubles as a brand play.

You can admire the discipline, but at some point, it starts to feel robotic. So when someone like Stephen A. Smith, a guy with legitimate insider access, calls him out as being fake, it hits differently.

For years, LeBron’s controlled the narrative, choosing who gets close and who gets frozen out but the walls are cracking a bit now, and people are starting to notice.

Credit to this Oregon State Reporter who remained professional while a bunch of idiots screamed “67” at her on Live TV >>

The Ironic Timing

Of course, this whole thing drops right before the Lakers’ season opener while LeBron is already sitting out with a “glute injury.” Sure, maybe it’s legit. Or maybe it’s just another perfectly timed subplot in the never-ending LeBron Reality Universe.

Bronny’s also hurt so yes, like clockwork, the Lakers are trending for drama before they’ve even played a game.

Look, I’m not usually one to side with Stephen A. Smith. The guy’s built a career out of yelling into cameras. But he’s right here.

LeBron James has spent two decades controlling the media, curating his image, and deciding who’s allowed to critique him. Now someone with enough clout is finally pulling the curtain back.

The timing couldn’t be better. Because for once, LeBron can’t control the narrative. That’s a little hard to do when the guy calling him out is sitting across from his best friend.