Stephen A's Take: LaMelo Ball's All-star Snub. NBA adopting 10-minute quarters? Bronny's NBA saga continues.

Summary

The Stephen A. Smith Show: Episode Summary

Title: Stephen A's Take: LaMelo Ball's All-star Snub. NBA adopting 10-minute quarters? Bronny's NBA saga continues
Host: Stephen A. Smith and iHeartPodcasts
Release Date: February 1, 2025

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1. Introduction

In this episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, Stephen A. Smith delves deep into the ongoing saga surrounding Bronny James, LeBron James' son, and his journey towards the NBA. The discussion centers around recent criticisms, comparisons to historical sports figures, and the broader implications for young athletes entering professional leagues.

2. Bronny James and the Lakers' Handling

Stephen A.’s Reaction to J.J. Redick’s Comments

Stephen A. opens the discussion by addressing comments made by Lakers head coach J.J. Redick, who implied that he had put Bronny James in a difficult position following the Lakers' loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Reflecting on his earlier remarks about Bronny, Stephen A. acknowledges that he wasn't alone in critiquing the situation.

Stephen A. Smith [01:02]: "I'm not a person that believes that Bronny James doesn't have potential. I'm certainly not rooting against him... But the reality is that Bronny James hasn't appeared to be ready to play in the NBA."

3. Colin Cowherd’s Perspective

Stephen A. references Colin Cowherd of FS1, who echoed his concerns regarding the Lakers' management of Bronny as a second-round pick.

Stephen A. Smith [01:30]: "Colin Cowherd was explaining that you can't get away with having somebody who's clearly not ready to be in the league... You can't... put them on the field with dudes who are putting their bodies and their livelihoods on the line."

Cowherd criticized the handling of young athletes, emphasizing the need for maturity and readiness before entering high-stakes professional environments.

4. Historical Comparisons: Joe Frazier and Larry Holmes

To illustrate his point, Stephen A. draws a parallel between Bronny James and the infamous boxing match where Joe Frazier's son was pitted against heavyweight champion Larry Holmes.

Stephen A. Smith [03:15]: "I used the Marvis Frazier going up against Larry Holmes analogy because Joe Frazier was criticized for putting his son in the ring against former heavyweight champion... Larry Holmes was quoted saying, 'Ain't no dude with 10 fights, ain't no kid with 10 fights gonna beat me.'"

He emphasizes that just as it was irresponsible to match an inexperienced boxer against a seasoned champion, placing Bronny prematurely in the NBA could be detrimental to both him and the league's integrity.

5. Stephen A.’s Support for Bronny and LeBron’s Family

Despite his critiques, Stephen A. makes it clear that he supports Bronny's potential and commends LeBron James and his family.

Stephen A. Smith [05:20]: "I want Bronny James to make it. I want him to shut up critics. I want him to succeed. I am not rooting against him."

He praises the integrity and loyalty of LeBron's close associates, highlighting the supportive environment surrounding Bronny.

Stephen A. Smith [06:05]: "You ever met Savannah, one of the most wonderful, wonderful human beings you could ever meet?... These are good dudes. They're just loyal to him."

6. Future Prospects and Recommendations

Stephen A. suggests that Bronny might benefit more from developing his skills in the G League before making a full transition to the NBA. This approach would allow him to earn his place based on merit rather than legacy.

Stephen A. Smith [06:45]: "I think the potential is better suited working your way in the G League and working your way up... You're in the G League until you come to the NBA as opposed to going back and forth... an individual who earned his stripes."

7. Anticipation of Further Discussions

Towards the end of the episode, Stephen A. hints at upcoming discussions regarding LaMelo Ball and the NBA's potential rule changes, setting the stage for future episodes.

Stephen A. Smith [07:30]: "I'll wait until I go on 7pm in Brooklyn with my man Melo to discuss that further."

8. Conclusion

Stephen A. Smith wraps up the episode by reiterating his support for Bronny James while emphasizing the importance of readiness and merit in professional sports. He encourages the Lakers and other stakeholders to consider a more measured approach in nurturing young talent to ensure both individual and league-wide success.

Stephen A. Smith [07:50]: "I am a fan of LeBron James. I just gotta call it like I see it. And I think in the case of his son, the dad needs to step in and say, this might not be. You might not be ready yet. That's okay."

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Stephen A. Smith [01:02]: "I'm not a person that believes that Bronny James doesn't have potential. I'm certainly not rooting against him..."
• Stephen A. Smith [03:15]: "I used the Marvis Frazier going up against Larry Holmes analogy because Joe Frazier was criticized for putting his son in the ring against former heavyweight champion..."
• Stephen A. Smith [05:20]: "I want Bronny James to make it. I want him to shut up critics. I want him to succeed. I am not rooting against him."
• Stephen A. Smith [06:05]: "You ever met Savannah, one of the most wonderful, wonderful human beings you could ever meet?... These are good dudes. They're just loyal to him."
• Stephen A. Smith [07:50]: "I am a fan of LeBron James. I just gotta call it like I see it..."

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Final Thoughts

This episode provides a comprehensive look into the complexities of managing young athletic talent in high-pressure environments. Stephen A. Smith balances his critiques with unwavering support for Bronny James and his family, advocating for a path that prioritizes development and readiness over legacy. Listeners gain insight into the challenges faced by next-generation athletes and the critical role of mentorship and strategic planning in their careers.

Transcript

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[Stephen A. Smith]

I want to follow up on some comments I made earlier this week on Bronny James. The comments were in reaction to Lakers head coach J.J. redick, who said he put Bronnie in a bad spot Tuesday night when the Lakers lost to the Philadelphia 76ers. Well, with all the noise that I made about that, apparently I wasn't the only one, because Colin Cowherd of FS1 also heard those comments and spoke about the Lakers handling of their second round pick who happens to be the son of LeBron James. Take a look at this please. Right here on the full screen. In the NFL. Media, coaches, fans, anybody, you can have real grown up conversations. You can hold players accountable. There's no walking on eggshells. There's a way to measure success in the NBA. You have to pretend that Bronny's an NBA player because otherwise you'll upset the King. Can we stop pretending with this? Come on, let's just stop pretending. This continues to be an unserious story, cowherd continued. What you don't want to become is an unserious league. The NFL, you take it seriously because they take it seriously. End quote. What's the interpretation for what Colin Cowherd was explaining? I'll tell you what the interpretation is. The interpretation is that you can't get away with having somebody who's clearly not ready to be in the league, be in the league and put them on the field with dudes who are putting their bodies and their livelihoods on the line. Can't do it. Now, again, I want to reemphasize what I'm trying to say. I'm not a person that believes that Bronny James doesn't have potential. I'm certainly not rooting against him. I think the money he gets paid is nobody's business. His father's underpaid, grossly underpaid, continuously underpaid with what he means to the league. The salary that LeBron James is subjected to pales in comparison to what his worth actually is, even though obviously he makes gobs and gobs of money off the court. But the reality is that Bronny James hasn't appeared to be ready to play in the NBA. Just because you make a shot here and there doesn't mean you're ready to play in the NBA on a night in, night out basis. I used the Marvis Frazier going up against Larry Holmes analogy because Joe Frazier was criticized for putting his son in the ring against former heavyweight champion of the world, Larry Holmes. And Larry Holmes was quoted saying, ain't no dude with 10 fights, ain't no kid with 10 fights gonna beat me. And he went in there and finished him off in the first round and called for the referee to stop the fight, waved the referee three times and hit him, and waved for the referee to stop the fight because he was clearly in over his head. And that seems to be the case with Bronny James. Now, some people close to LeBron James in his camp felt that that was stepping over the line, that that wasn't a good analogy, et cetera, et cetera. Well, I asked this question rhetorically. What the hell did Tyrese Maxey look like the other day going against Bronny James? If that wasn't a Larry Holmes, Marvis Frazier comparison, I don't know what is. He had 43, by the way. All I'm saying to you is that Bronny James has potential. And I think the potential is better suited working your way in the G League and working your way up. So you ain't going back and forth, but you're literally there permanently. You're in the G League until you come to the NBA as opposed to going back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, because that's just reminding people that you're LeBron James, son, as opposed to an individual who earned his stripes. And I said, LeBron James, your dad, and you're a basketball savant. Why expose him to this? Going into last night's game against Washington, the hapless Washington Wizards, by the way, doesn't even resemble an NBA team. Don't get me started with them in this 16 game losing streak. 13 games, 1444 minutes, one for 16 shooting from the field. Oh, for seven from three point range, 0.3, 0.3 rebounds or three assists, rather 0.4 rebounds per game. Come on. That's all I'm saying. I want Bronny James to make it. I want him to shut up critics. I want him to succeed. I am not rooting against him. You ever met LeBron James family? You ever met Savannah, one of the most wonderful, wonderful human beings you could ever meet? Have you really sat down and talked to LeBron James at some point in time? A really good dude. Okay? I mean, we don't mess with each other because I work in a profession that has to be critical of him, and I understand that. But I know he's a great guy. You ever met his mother, Gloria? Love, Miss Gloria. Love it or death. Maverick Carter, Rich Paul, Randy. Randy Mims. These are good dudes. They're just loyal to him. I see Randy and he looking at me all hard and all this. I don't take that personally. He loves LeBron. That's his guy. Rich Paul, when he texts me and call, calls me and he's complaining about something, that's his guy. You know what? If I was in LeBron James position, y'all would hear from my boy Cardell. You would hear from Jeff. You would hear from Mark. You would hear from my man Spank. You would hear from, you know, a whole bunch of cats. Because I got boys who love me too, just like his boys love him. I understand take that personal. As long as I don't get personal, I don't worry about it, because I'm never gonna do that. I am a fan of LeBron James. I just gotta call it like I see it. And I think in the case of his son, the dad needs to step in and say, this might not be. You might not be ready yet. That's okay. That's all I'm saying. That's all I'm saying. But I was glad he looked decent against the Wizards the other night. And I hope that he continues to succeed. And I hope that Bronny James makes lies of a bunch of people. I'm rooting for the kid. Never rooting against him. Hearing a lot about his brother Bryce, younger brother, and a lot about his potential. This kid is something. But I didn't even bring up Melo, as in Carmelo Anthony, and how his son, who is committed to Syracuse, who has a game and everybody knows has a game, seems to be doing it the right way. Just seems to be doing it the right way. But I'll leave that alone for now. I'll wait until I go on 7pm in Brooklyn with my man Melo to discuss that further.

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