Stephen A's Take: Really? Lebron joked, Stephen A wears tighty whities during his interview with Pat McAfee.

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Stephen A. Smith Show Episode: Stephen A's Take: Really? Lebron joked, Stephen A wears tighty whities during his interview with Pat McAfee
Release Date: March 27, 2025
Host: Stephen A. Smith
Produced by: iHeartPodcasts

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Introduction

In this episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, host Stephen A. Smith delves into the recent media frenzy surrounding LeBron James's appearance on the Pat McAfee show. The episode centers on the tense exchange between Smith and James, exploring the dynamics of sports commentary, media interactions, and personal confrontations within the basketball community.

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LeBron James's Appearance on Pat McAfee Show

Stephen A. Smith opens the discussion by addressing LeBron James's recent appearance on the Pat McAfee show, where James made headlines with his comments about Smith. Smith plays excerpts from the interview to provide context to his listeners.

Key Highlights:

• LeBron's Initial Reluctance: James expressed hesitation in addressing certain topics until a video forced his hand.
  LeBron James [01:50]: "I didn't want to address it... since the video came out, I feel the need to address it."

• Personal Remarks: The conversation took a personal turn when James mentioned Smith’s personal attire.
  LeBron James [03:09]: "He's gonna get home and grab some ice cream out of the fucking freezer and sit hair and his tighty whities on the couch."

• Co-host’s Reaction: Stephen’s co-host humorously reacts to the mention of "tighty whities," setting the stage for Smith to clarify his stance.

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Stephen A. Smith’s Response and Analysis

Smith addresses LeBron's comments head-on, differentiating between personal attacks and professional criticism.

Key Points:

• Clarification on Humor: Smith points out that he does not wear tighty whities, highlighting the absurdity of the remark.
  Stephen A. Smith [03:15]: "Tidy. Whitey's comment was funny, cuz I don't wear tighty whities. Let you figure out why that is."

• Serious Tone: Despite the humorous interlude, Smith emphasizes the seriousness of his criticism towards LeBron James.
  Stephen A. Smith [04:00]: "I don't happen to consider anything that LeBron has said a laughing matter."

• Media Strategies: Smith criticizes the media's role in amplifying personal conflicts for ratings.
  Stephen A. Smith [05:00]: "LeBron gives us plenty of ammunition to talk about him, both good and bad."

• Support for Pat McAfee: Acknowledges Pat McAfee’s role and defends his integrity in conducting the interview.
  Stephen A. Smith [05:30]: "Pat McAfee did nothing wrong. He did his job."

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Conflict with LeBron James

Smith delves deeper into the confrontation with LeBron James, recounting the incident and expressing his frustrations.

Key Highlights:

• Incident Description: Smith narrates the encounter with James during a game, highlighting the unexpected and confrontational nature of the interaction.
  Stephen A. Smith [07:00]: "When you sit in courtside, the Lakers have an idea of who's going to show up he knew I was coming."

• Allegations of Lying: Accuses LeBron of dishonesty regarding his comments about Smith and his son.
  Stephen A. Smith [07:27]: "LeBron James is full of it. And in this particular instance, as it pertains to his son, he is a liar."

• Professionalism and Preparedness: Smith argues that as a seasoned reporter, he is unafraid to confront elite athletes and expects the truth to prevail.
  Stephen A. Smith [09:07]: "I don't lie to y'all. His ass lies a lot."

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Impact on LeBron’s Son, Bronny James

While emphasizing that his critique is not about Bronny, Smith acknowledges the media scrutiny facing LeBron’s son.

Key Points:

• Separate Entities: Clarifies that his criticisms are directed solely at LeBron and not at Bronny despite external perceptions.
  Stephen A. Smith [07:29]: "This is not about Bronnie. This is about LeBron."

• Future Prospects: Expresses belief in Bronny's potential as an NBA player, indicating support despite the current media spotlight.
  Stephen A. Smith [12:18]: "I think Bronnie's gonna be an NBA player. I believe in the kid personally."

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Media Ethics and Accountability

Smith critiques the broader sports media landscape, particularly how coverage can sometimes blur the line between professional analysis and personal vendettas.

Key Highlights:

• Accountability of LeBron: Calls for LeBron to hold himself accountable for his public statements and actions.
  Stephen A. Smith [07:00]: "When are y'all going to ask him or hold him accountable for the truth?"

• Media Responsibility: Encourages media professionals to maintain integrity and avoid sensationalism in reporting.
  Stephen A. Smith [10:27]: "How do you mention Bronnie James without bringing up how he got drafted by the Lakers?"

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Conclusion and Final Thoughts

In wrapping up the episode, Smith reiterates his commitment to honest and unfiltered sports commentary. He underscores the importance of addressing issues directly rather than letting misunderstandings fester in the media.

Final Remarks:

• Commitment to Truth: Smith affirms his dedication to presenting the truth, regardless of the personal conflicts it may entail.
  Stephen A. Smith [11:07]: "That'S telling the truth, and it's me. I don't lie to y'all."

• Anticipation for Bronny’s Career: Maintains a positive outlook on Bronny James's future in basketball, separate from the current controversies.
  Stephen A. Smith [12:25]: "I happen to believe that he's going to be ready."

• Call for Understanding: Requests the audience to comprehend the nuances of his critique, distinguishing between personal grievances and professional evaluations.
  Stephen A. Smith [14:18]: "How do you bring that up without bringing up that LeBron James said..."

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Notable Quotes

• Stephen A. Smith [05:00]: "LeBron gives us plenty of ammunition to talk about him, both good and bad."
• Stephen A. Smith [07:27]: "LeBron James is full of it. And in this particular instance, as it pertains to his son, he is a liar."
• Stephen A. Smith [12:18]: "I think Bronnie's gonna be an NBA player. I believe in the kid personally."
• Stephen A. Smith [11:07]: "That'S telling the truth, and it's me. I don't lie to y'all."

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Conclusion

This episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show provides an in-depth look into the complexities of sports journalism, personal conflicts between high-profile athletes and commentators, and the impact of media narratives on both individuals and their families. Stephen A. Smith navigates through these topics with his characteristic candor, offering listeners a nuanced perspective on the ongoing discourse involving LeBron James and his own role within the sports media landscape.

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Note: Advertisement segments and non-content sections were excluded from this summary to focus solely on the substantive discussions between Stephen A. Smith and the topics at hand.

Transcript

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[Stephen A. Smith]

Let's just get right into it. We all know where I need to start today, and it's with some sports talk, media news, and my good friend Mr. LeBron James. LeBron appeared on the Pat McAfee show today and made a few headlines with his thoughts on a number of topics, including yours truly. For those of you who didn't see it, I'll play it for you right here. This is LeBron James on Pat McAfee talking about me, which leads obviously to.

[Co-host]

You and Stephen A. Hey, Legit. That feels like a moment that had been brewing for a long time.

[LeBron James]

He's like on a Taylor Swift.

[Co-host]

Yeah.

[LeBron James]

Tour run right now.

[Co-host]

Oh yeah, yeah, we're watching it. Yeah, we're awesome. Oh yeah, you're seeing it as well.

[LeBron James]

No, this he literally it started off with I didn't want to address it.

[Lowe's Representative]

Yeah, sure.

[LeBron James]

I didn't. I didn't want to address it. I wasn't going to address it, but since the video came out, I feel the need to address it. Are you kidding me? If there's one person that couldn't wait to the video to drop so you can address it is your ass. Like, seriously, I and like another. He completely, like, missed the whole point. The whole point. Never in my. 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, you know, be in a position where, okay, if a guy's not performing, you know, that is all. 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, you know, And I think, and I think a lot of the media, including him, and I know he's gonna, he's gonna be happy as hell. He's gonna be smiling from ear to ear when he hears me talking about him again. Oh my God. He's gonna get home and grab some.

[Co-host]

Ice cream out of the fucking freezer.

[LeBron James]

And sit hair and his tighty whities on the couch.

[Co-host]

I hope, I hope at some point you two get do get a chance.

[LeBron James]

Dude, like relax, bro. Like relax.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Tidy. Whitey's comment was funny, cuz. I, I, I don't wear tighty whities. Let you figure out why that is. But moving on from that particular subject, I don't happen to consider anything that LeBron has said a laughing matter. So y'all wanted me to be serious. I'll be serious. And I know there's some people out there that's going to be like, oh, I'm milking the story for all it's worth. Well, I've been winning in television for quite some time. I don't need an incident like this to talk about LeBron, and I don't need an incident like this to get ratings. LeBron gives us plenty of ammunition to talk about him, both good and bad. So let's get that out the way first. Let's also get out the way that major, major props to Pat McAfee for getting that interview. There's a lot of people that's been texting me, and he's a teammate. He's on espn. Why would he do that? Please, y'all be quiet. Pat McAfee did nothing wrong. Pat McAfee did his job. Pat McAfee has a show that airs on ESPN. You have a LeBron an opportunity to get LeBron James. You take him. I don't give a damn who you are. This is one of the greatest players in the history of basketball. You get him. If you have an opportunity to get him, you get him. And I didn't think that Pat McAfee disrespected me or did me wrong in any way. He did his job, and I got no problems with it. My issue is with LeBron James. And I just want to say for the record, LeBron James is full of it. And in this particular instance, as it pertains to his son, he is a liar. And he went on national television today. And he lied again. You see, when he approached. When he approached me while I was sitting courtside at that game against the New York Knicks, when he rolled up on me, I didn't know he was gonna roll up on me. I had no idea. But when he said what he had to say, I was in no position to give any kind of retort without making a scene. It was during the third quarter. It was fresh out of a timeout. It was him walking to the Baske Court. It was on national television. The cameras were rolling. And had I done something? What do y'all want me to do? You want me to act? You want this to be a. A reincarnation of Chris Rock and. And Will Smith? And let me state for the record that while we bring up that. Let me assure you, it wouldn't have gone down like that. I would have gotten my ass kicked because had that man put his hands on me, I would have immediately swung on him. Immediately. That I'm not going to tolerate. But I knew he wasn't going to do something like that. There was no fear in my mind about it. It was shock because as I have repeatedly stated, I was not talking about his son. I was talking about him. And whether it's the video that you saw him a couple of days later after that incident, when he was talking to Richard Jefferson, my colleague at espn, before an ABC game in Boston, when it got blown out that night by the Celtics, or in the aftermath of it, including Pat McAfee show, when he talked about me getting personal and taking it beyond basketball.

I'm getting to a point where I'm.

Getting very annoyed at people who cover the game of basketball, who cover professional sports, pundits out there, including him, his inner circle, his family members and everybody else included. When are y'all going to ask him.

Or hold him accountable for the truth? I have not been talking about Bronny James. I have not, as LeBron James accused me of doing to my face, been shitting on his son. I clapped back at D. Wade and Melo, two brothers I love dearly when they were talking about this, even though 99% of the stuff they said was right, it was not clapping back at his son. Your second round pick, 55th overall.

There's been plenty of second round picks.

That have to work their way up through the ranks before getting to the pro level. Me pointing that out about his son and talking about how his son has been pushed to the forefront, thereby put in a line of fire for folks in the media to come at him is not denigrating his son is simply highlighting what we all knew, which is that he's not ready yet. But based on what we've seen from Bronnie recently, there are indications that he will be. And as LeBron James pointed out on the Pat McAfee show today, it's probably sooner than later because his growth and his maturation from just a year ago has happened by leaps and bounds. Nothing but respect and appreciation. Wishing Bronnie nothing but the best. This is not about Bronnie. This is about LeBron. This is about LeBron. And when you sit up there and you talk about. I love talking about. I don't need something like this to happen to talk about LeBron. He plays for the Lakers.

He is LeBron James.

I don't need an incident like this.

To talk about LeBron James.

And do I use him for ratings? You're damn right. Like I use anything in the news for ratings. Because I'm a reporter and a personality and a pundit and a commentator. That's my career. Of course I talk about him. Of course I talk about anything relevant in the news. One minute it's LeBron. Another minute it's the Cowboys. Y'all act like that's all I talk about for two hours a day, 10 hours a week, live, all I talk about is LeBron and the Cowboys. Are you sure? Because I can pick a whole bunch of things I've gotten in trouble for, for opening my mouth about. But that's neither here nor there. Because let's not get distracted from the real point at hand. The real point at hand is this. LeBron James continues to lie. He hoodwinked y'all into thinking that he was upset about criticism about his son. If your son is a professional basketball player, and I was talking about your son as a basketball player, since you just went on Pat McAfee show and said you would never knock anybody for talking about the game, then what is it that I said? What I said was, as a father. Stop. I wasn't talking about you as a father. As somebody that's home minding your business. And I just call you out because.

Your son is in this position.

That's not the father I've been talking about. That's why I've been addressing Draymond Green, who's been an avid supporter of LeBron on this matter. All I'm asking is for comprehension of the actual point. How do you mention Bronnie James without bringing up how he got drafted by the Lakers? How he got drafted, period. How do you bring that up without bringing up LeBron James saying he was better than some NBA players before he.

Got to the NBA?

How do you bring that up without bringing up that LeBron James said, quote, if you want me, draft my son? At this point, it ain't about the money. I'll play for free. That was LeBron. How is it. I mean, I understand cynics. I understand this pension to just hate the player and not the game. I understand how it's tempting to just come at me because you might dislike me or might disagree with me. If you're Joe Public or Susie Public out there, I get it. But don't the truth matter? Because there's one person in this ordeal.

That'S telling the truth, and it's me.

I. I don't lie to y'all.

His ass lies a lot.

And there's a lot of shady stuff that he does. And one of the things is his passive aggressiveness and the two facedness and smile in your face and dig you behind the back. I happen to know that about him, which is why I don't like him and he don't like me. But it doesn't stop me from being fair and calling it like I see it. We ain't exchanging Christmas gifts. We ain't having Thanksgiving dinner together. What you bring your son up into there for? Would you bring your family up in there before you gonna go on Pat McAfee Show? Talk about you gonna protect your house? What are you talking about? Your son ain't at the house. He'[e-mail] Arena. We ain't covering him in Brentwood. We covering him in downtown LA at the crypto.com arena where you put him. Now, I happen to believe that he's going to be ready.

I think Bronnie's gonna be an NBA player. I believe in the kid personally.

But LeBron did this. Now to get to he and I. Could y'all please go back to the video of him getting in my face? If you watch, ladies and gentlemen, and you see it for yourself, notice how LeBron is in my face. And right when he finishes, he looks past me, right at the camera that was filming it. Watch him. I didn't even pick that up. First go round, you got Marquis Morris to my right, his left, you got Scott Brooks, assistant coach, behind him. He finishes talking and looks right up to the camera. Everybody and their mother knew I was going to be there. Because when you sit in courtside, the Lakers have an idea of who's going to show up he knew I was coming.

And picked the third quarter in the middle of the game to say what he has to say, to make sure the camera's rolling and to.

Then look at the camera after immediately saying.

What he said to me with me having no chance to respond. We could have went to the back after the game.

LeBron James could have came right over.

The press row and said, yo, don't leave. I want to see you after the game. We gotta have a conversation.

And before any of these players or any professional athlete or anybody associated with them says another syllable, think about this.

99% of y'all would have done that. Y'all said, stephen, they don't leave. I ain't see you, bro, after the game. LeBron didn't want that because LeBron would have had to deal with my response. And my response would have been, you did this. This ain't me. Don't put this on me.

Why the hell are you putting your son in this position knowing we got to cover him? If we don't cover him, we ain't doing our job. Why would you do that? That's what I would have said to.

Him, but he didn't want a response. He didn't want that because LeBron wanted to give smoke. He didn't want to take any. What am I talking about? I have even more nuggets of info to give y'all on that point. Brother don't like smoke. He just likes to give it. Typical bully mentality. It ain't working with me.

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[Ben Walter]

The Unshakables podcast is kicking off season two with an episode you won't want to miss. Joint host Ben Walter, CEO of Chase for Business, as he welcomes a very special Guest, chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, Jamie Dimon. Hear about the challenges facing small businesses and some of the oh moments Jamie has overcome. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Chase Mobile app is available for select mobile devices. Message and data rates may apply. J.P. morgan Chase Bank NA Member FDIC Copyright 2025 J.P. morgan Chase & Company.