Stephen A. Smith put years of public disagreements with LeBron James aside this week, forcefully defending the NBA superstar after President Donald Trump suggested that James was “maybe a racist.”
Speaking on his YouTube show Monday, Smith called Trump’s remarks “really, really disgusting” and criticized what he described as increasingly divisive rhetoric. The ESPN personality said that regardless of his personal relationship with James, the comments crossed a line and deserved to be called out.
The exchange came after Trump was asked to compare Michael Jordan and LeBron James during a White House appearance. While praising Jordan, whom Trump described as a friend, he added that LeBron was “maybe a racist” before suggesting the criticism between the two stems from James’ dislike of him.
Smith’s defense surprised many because he and James have had a highly publicized feud over the past year. The two clashed after Smith’s criticism of Bronny James, and Smith has openly acknowledged that he and LeBron “don’t like each other.” Despite that history, Smith said personal feelings should not prevent him from speaking out when he believes comments are inappropriate.
“We’ve got to call stuff out,” Smith said, arguing that public figures, including presidents, should be held accountable for their words. He added that remaining silent simply because of past disagreements would be the wrong approach.
The latest back-and-forth adds another chapter to the long-running public feud between Trump and James, whose political differences have been well documented for years. While the debate over basketball’s GOAT may never end, the comments have once again pushed the conversation beyond sports and into the political spotlight.
