LeBron James is usually very careful about what he says on the court in front of cameras, but this time he was caught on a hot mic.
While chopping it up with ESPN broadcaster and former teammate Richard Jefferson ahead of the Lakers’ loss to the Celtics on Saturday, the two began laughing about the future Hall of Famer’s run-in with Stephen A. Smith earlier in the week.
“That’s the only thing I’m tripping,” James appeared to say to Jefferson as the two embraced on the court. “I don’t give a f–k. Once he talks about, ‘I’m pleading to you as a father.’ I can’t.”
Warning: Graphic language
Smith said on ESPN’s “First Take” on Jan. 29 regarding James’ son, Bronny: “I am pleading with LeBron James as a father: stop this. Stop this.”
After the Lakers’ 113-109 home win over the Knicks on Thursday, James confronted Smith, who was sitting courtside for the game.
James looked livid with Smith during the heated exchange, which Smith confirmed was related to James being upset about Smith’s commentary surrounding James’ son.
“That was LeBron James coming up to me, unexpectedly, I might add, to confront me about making sure I mind what I say about his son,” Smith said on “First Take” on Friday.
“That wasn’t a basketball player confronting me. That was a parent, that was a father. I can’t sit here and be angry or feel slighted by LeBron James in that regard. By all accounts, he’s obviously a wonderful family man and father who cares very, very deeply about his son, and based on some of the comments he had heard or shall I say I think he thought he heard, clearly took exception to some of the things he heard me say, and he confronted me about it.”