LeBron James, the Los Angeles Lakers’ superstar, recently addressed his widely discussed exchange with Stephen A. Smith during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show. In a candid moment, James humorously likened Smith’s media presence to a “Taylor Swift tour run,” citing Smith’s approach to commentary.
“He’s like on a Taylor Swift tour run right now,” James remarked. “He literally, it started off with, ‘I didn’t want to address it. I didn’t want to address it, I wasn’t gonna address it. But since the video came out, I feel the need to address it.’ Motherf*er, are you kidding me? If there’s one person that couldn’t till the video had dropped so you could address it, it’s your a**. Like, seriously.”
Los Angeles Lakers: Stephan A. Misses The Point
James proceeded to articulate his stance on media criticism, distinguishing between fair game commentary on on-court performance and what he perceives as personal attacks. He suggested that many media personalities, including Smith, often blur this line.
“And another, he completely like, missed the whole point. The whole point,” James stated. “Never would I ever not allow people to talk about the sport, criticize players about what they do on the court. That is your job to criticize or to be in a position to, okay, if a guy’s not performing. That is all part of the game. That’s all part of the game. But when you take it and you get personal with it, it’s my job to not only protect my damn household, but protect the players.”
James’s appearance on The Pat McAfee Show was marked by his candor, as he openly discussed his views on media interactions, particularly as the Lakers navigate a crucial period leading up to the playoffs.