The American sports world is shaken when LeBron James — the most powerful basketball star in the NBA — suddenly attacked the famous sports commentator Stephen A. Smith, accusing him of “lack of fairness and professional ethics” when commenting on athletes.
In a post that went viral on social media early this morning, LeBron wrote with a hidden meaning but it was not difficult to guess the target:
“It’s strange that some people can go on air and scold us like criminals every time there is a small matter, but when talking about Alexis Ohanian, their voice is full of respect, gentle as if they are reading a speech.”
Not stopping there, LeBron continued: “If you have the energy to judge us, keep that energy with everyone. Don’t pick someone who is easy to attack to appear strong.”
The statement was like a media bomb that immediately detonated a series of chain reactions. In less than 2 hours, the hashtags #LeBronVsStephenA and #KeepTheSameEnergy climbed straight to the top 3 global trends. Fans were divided into two sides, arguing fiercely.
An account with more than 2 million followers commented: “LeBron just said what a lot of athletes want to say. Stephen A. sometimes forgets that he is not a judge.”
Meanwhile, Stephen A.’s supporters countered: “This is just LeBron trying to control the narrative. Stephen A. is the only one who dares to speak out.”
The situation became more tense when a series of former NBA players joined in.
Stephen Jackson posted a story: “LeBron is right. Some people forget they make a living criticizing others.”
Matt Barnes sarcastically said: “Funny, when Stephen A. talks about Ohanian, his voice is sweeter than when he comments on the All-Star Game.”
Meanwhile, an anonymous former coach said: “Stephen A. doesn’t like to hear the truth. If LeBron is telling the truth, it means something has really upset him.”
ESPN is “keeping a close eye” on the situation, a source familiar with the situation said, fearing it could escalate into a public on-air clash. “Stephen A. is very sensitive,” one editor said. “He might spend the entire First Take broadcast talking back to LeBron.”
While the public waits to see if the two powerful men will go head-to-head, some observers see this as a “clash of empires” – one a sports superstar, the other a sports media icon.
A media expert concluded: “When LeBron James speaks, the world listens. When Stephen A. responds, the world argues. And this is a drama America cannot ignore.”
