“Stephen A. Messed Up”: NBA Legend’s Son Fires Back at ESPN Vet as LeBron James’ Fatherhood Under Scrutiny

At first, Stephen A. Smith sympathized with LeBron James saying he saw a father in front of him. The next moment while on Gil’s Arena, his true feelings aired out. “I thought it was weak,” the ESPN analyst said about the Akron Hammer confronting him.

The premise was his son, Bronny James who has attracted a lot of scrutiny since being in the league. However, James doesn’t mind his game being criticized. What he takes exception to is Smith doubting his abilities as a father.

On numerous occasions, the face of First Take has done it. He called out James for putting the 20-year-old in a position that would attract a negative spotlight. Likewise, the four-time MVP’s frustrations were confirmed when he spoke to Richard Jefferson. But still, Smith is standing for what he said. But is he right?

Not according to Austin Rivers. The former Clippers played under his father, Doc Rivers. Hence, he knows all about the criticism that comes with it. However, he thinks Stephen A. Smith “messed up” in one critical area. He crossed a line when he spoke about LeBron James’ acts as a father.

“You attacked him as a father… And you weren’t talking and critiquing Bronny as a player. Or yeah, you were, but that’s not just it. You started critiquing LeBron James as a father, alluding to the fact that he’s doing a poor job by putting his son in this situation,” Rivers said on his podcast.

To be clear, although he may internally feel rage, LeBron James has always wanted Bronny James to forge his own path. That means dealing with questions about his performance. But he won’t tolerate it if somebody tarnishes his image as a father, one that he has worked extremely hard to keep clean.

“When you start doing that, true, untrue, it’s not for you to be said, especially at 11, not on TV, national television. You don’t critique somebody as a father,” the former Denver Nuggets guard said about the situation. But then there’s another angle to the story. Stephen A. Smith didn’t understand why James didn’t do anything privately first.

Contrary to what his words suggest, Austin Rivers actually likes Stephen A. Smith. When he began his podcast, the savvy media member was of immense help to the former NBA guard. However, Rivers is also not going to blindly support the First Take man for his actions. He had a fitting response to Smith’s claims to want things to be private.

And it’s rather simple. All LeBron James did was meet him “spade for spade”.

“He put his son in this. Brother, you are way past the line now. And that’s why LeBron’s like, you know what? I’m purposely going to do it in front of everybody. You don’t think LeBron could have called him? Stephen A’s like, you could have called me. He don’t want to call you because you called him out publicly. So he’s going to talk to “you publicly. He met you spade for spade,” Rivers said on Off Guard.

It’s more than just a petty confrontation, right? Yes, James could have asked for some justification privately from Smith. But with the following that the analyst possesses, his public opinions hold some weight. Likewise, settling it in private wouldn’t allow for those times to be diminished.

And even if that wasn’t his reasoning, just as a father, James had every right to step up. It’s one thing to even contain anger on people calling his son a product of nepotism. But when it comes to Smith blaming his actions for Bronny’s difficult path, that goes a step further. LeBron James has spent 20 years not only keeping his image polished but being a model father to his children.

He spends quality time with all of his three children, attends the hallmark events, and is an unwavering pillar of support. Rivers also pointed out that he has done a fine job in raising them as they too are well-mannered and humble. So for somebody to put all of his efforts in jeopardy with one hot take just isn’t fair to LeBron James.

Hence, public or private, it’s really hard to see why what the Lakers forward did was weak or wrong. Remember, he didn’t blast off right away. It was only after a certain time frame of the coverage that James felt the need to raise his voice. And as a protective father, he did.