Sports analysts are not always pleasant with the players, and it’s nothing new when they annoy the athletes with their critical opinions. Something similar has been happening with Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James. The relationship between the two has not been very favorable in recent times.
The 40-year-old is recovering from an injury he sustained during the playoffs. While the NBA Finals are underway, the season for several teams, including the Los Angeles Lakers, has ended this year. During the offseason, James has been attending some off-court activities, including his appearance on his “Mind The Game” podcast. The four-time NBA Champion, on the latest episode of the podcast, questioned the ring culture and how people shape their opinions based on it. He also sparked debate with his comments on why people consider it the ultimate measure of success in the league.
Stephen A. Smith Calls Out LeBron James on “Ring Culture” Comments
The Recent Ring Culture Debate
James, during a discussion on the recent episode of the “Mind The Game” podcast, argued, “I don’t know why it’s discussed so much in our sport and why it’s the end-all-be-all of everything. You tell me Allen Iverson, Charles Barkley, and Steve Nash weren’t unbelievable.” He continued, “A ring is a team accomplishment.” The Lakers legend brought up some valid points, by naming some of the best NBA players without a title.
James questioned, “They can’t be talked about with these guys because they won rings?” Meanwhile, Stephen A. Smith did not agree with LeBron’s comments. The NBA analyst is back with another critical comment for the Lakers star. The 57-year-old believes that the Lakers forward left Cleveland for Miami to form an exceptional team with players like Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, and it contradicts his stance.
During a segment on “First Take,” Stephen A. Smith questioned, “If [winning a championship] didn’t mean much or shouldn’t mean much … Why were you so relieved to finally have one? Why did you depart Cleveland to go to Miami?”
“If [winning a championship] didn’t mean much or shouldn’t mean much … Why were you so relieved to finally have one? Why did you depart Cleveland to go to Miami?”@stephenasmith says LeBron not understanding why ring culture is discussed in the NBA is “nonsense”
pic.twitter.com/PwRvTxgtjw
— First Take (@FirstTake) June 18, 2025
It seems like the feud between Stephen A. Smith and LeBron is renewed now.
The History Between LeBron and Stephen A. Smith
Stephen A. Smith and LeBron have a history with a notable incident this past season. Before this, James confronted Smith courtside during the Lakers vs the New York Knicks match in March over the NBA analyst’s comments on Bronny James. The former Cleveland star was not pleased with the negative comments on his son, which resulted in the heated viral exchange between the two.
The confrontation got significant attention, after which, Smith went on to discuss the occurrence during the Lakers-Knicks game. The ESPN analyst called it “a father” confronting him and not “ a basketball player” on First Take. Meanwhile, LeBron is currently gearing up for his 23rd season in the league. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer is receiving ahead of the beginning of the Lakers’ training camp in September.
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