After Stephen A. Smith Invoked Kobe Bryant’s Death and Dwyane Wade In Latest Response To LeBron James, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Spoke Out

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Shift your focus, Drake and Kendrick Lamar, as the NBA seems poised for its own major spat. Since their on-court altercation in early March, Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James have been exchanging heated words, a feud that has drawn more players into the fray. The latest addition to the mix is Richard Jefferson, which has significantly escalated the situation to the point that NBA commissioner Adam Silver is now addressing it.

The leader of the NBA is currently facing questions about a dispute between an ESPN commentator and one of basketball’s all-time greats, following Stephen A. Smith’s recent viral comments that touched on Kobe Bryant’s passing and his former teammate, Dwyane Wade.

Stephen A. Smith’s Response To LeBron James Included References To Kobe Bryant’s Death And Dwyane Wade

It wasn’t likely that people thought Stephen A. Smith would remain silent following LeBron James’ appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, where he made criticisms against him. However, what left many surprised was not only what Smith responded with but also how he incorporated other athletes into the discussion.

This passage is simply a brief excerpt from an extended argument LeBron made during his appearance on ESPN’s “First Take” show, where he discussed the controversy surrounding James’s reported absence at Kobe Bryant’s funeral and Dwyane Wade’s Basketball Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

I propose that he should find contentment with topics we haven’t delved into yet. To be clear, we never actually talked about nor explored why you were absent from Kobe Bryant’s memorial service. Similarly, there was no conversation about why you missed Dwyane Wade’s Hall of Fame induction, given that he played a significant role in your first career championship.

Two specific remarks sparked significant response across the sporting community, with many providing additional insights into the situation. Back then, various media sources reported that LeBron James attended Kobe Bryant’s memorial service, although no images of him were publicly available.

Moreover, it’s likely that Stephen A. Smith is aware that James was unable to attend Wade’s Hall of Fame induction due to his son Bronny having experienced a cardiac incident just two weeks prior to the event.

This extensive response encompassed a variety of points, including labeling LeBron James as dishonest and suggesting a connection to Michael Jordan. In conclusion, Stephen A. Smith emphasized that his employment at ESPN remains solid, as he recently inked a 5-year contract worth $100 million with the network. Given his upcoming potential collaboration with Charles Barkley next season when Inside The NBA joins ESPN, it seems his job stability is not at risk due to this instance.

However, the NBA commissioner, Adam Silver, is now getting in on this conversation.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Shared His Thoughts On The Feud

Following a rather aggressive confrontation, it was only natural that reporters would seek NBA Commissioner Adam Silver’s perspective on the matter. Silver admitted that he wasn’t fully informed about the specifics of the exchange, but so far, he hasn’t taken kindly to what he’s learned (as reported by @BrettSiegel).

During our meeting, I got multiple messages asking if I was tuning in to some event. Given our sport’s culture, such discussions are common within our league. However, due to my schedule, I haven’t had the opportunity to catch up on today’s happenings yet. In regards to instances where media and players exchange heated words, as the commissioner, I prefer not to be a spectator to such personal exchanges.

Although it’s unlikely that Adam Silver frets about LeBron James criticizing Stephen A. Smith during the Super Bowl’s intermission performance, he’s made it clear that such a conflict isn’t desirable. Smith appears to be provoking Silver, and his recent personal jabs suggest that James might retaliate.

Stephen A. Smith regularly features on ESPN’s “First Take” at 10:00 a.m. ET weekdays. There could be more tension brewing between him and LeBron James as the latter gears up for the NBA playoffs, though we’ll have to stay tuned to find out.

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2025-03-28 18:07