LeBron James and ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith had a heated exchange following the Lakers’ thrilling 113-109 overtime victory against the New York Knicks. The encounter, which took place courtside, saw an agitated James approach Smith before walking off in frustration—fueling speculation that the NBA star is growing increasingly thin-skinned over criticism of his son, Bronny James.

Video footage of the interaction shows LeBron visibly upset, speaking to Smith in a tense moment that didn’t end with the usual smiles and handshakes. Instead, James turned and stormed off toward the locker room while Smith shook his head in apparent disagreement.

While the exact words exchanged remain unclear, social media “lip readers” claim James told Smith, “Keep my son out of this s—t, bro.”

The dust-up comes after weeks of Smith’s sharp criticism of Bronny’s place in the NBA, suggesting the young player wouldn’t have a roster spot if not for his father’s influence. Back in January, Smith pleaded with James to “stop this” and admit that his son is only in the league because of his famous last name.

“We all know that Bronny James is in the NBA because of his dad,” Smith declared on *First Take* in late January, sparking outrage from LeBron’s camp.

James and his agency, Klutch Sports, quickly took issue with Smith’s remarks and reportedly reached out to him directly, urging him to stop speaking about Bronny. The response didn’t sit well with Smith, who fired back on *The Stephen A. Smith Show* days later.

“It’s got to a point where this LeBron sensitivity is just beyond the pale,” Smith said on February 1. “It pissed me off.”

Now, it appears James has taken matters into his own hands, confronting Smith directly after Thursday night’s game. But was it a wise move?

LeBron has long been known for controlling media narratives, but this latest outburst only reinforces the perception that he wants to shield his son from criticism rather than let him prove himself on merit. Smith, a seasoned sports commentator, isn’t the type to back down, and with his massive $100 million contract from ESPN, he certainly won’t be silenced anytime soon.

Meanwhile, the Lakers’ win was overshadowed by the drama, even as Jalen Brunson suffered a brutal ankle injury that could have serious implications for the Knicks’ season. But instead of focusing on the game, LeBron James made the moment about himself—again.

The real question remains: If Bronny James truly belongs in the NBA, why is his father so desperate to control the narrative?