Broadcaster Stephen A. Smith is known for his outspoken personality, whether it’s discussing sports across the ESPN platform or talking about politics wherever he can.
Smith spoke with Graham Bensinger, host of ‘In Depth with Graham Bensinger,’ and provided some clarification on several notable topics involving himself, including his relationship with Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and a potential 2028 presidential campaign.
Stephen A. Smith on beef with LeBron James
Smith has often been critical of James, the face of the NBA for nearly two decades.
“My daughters love LeBron. And I had to look at them and say, ‘Yeah, he is phenomenal.’ They ain’t lying. He’s one of the greatest ever. And so, again, you can have differences with people, but if you’re a grownup, if you’re a man, you’re able to compartmentalize and say, ‘we might have a disagreement.’
“We might have a beef,” Smith said. “… It doesn’t mean you should look at him in a negative kind of way. I might have affected him in ways that other people haven’t, and that might have provoked him to do whatever, I don’t know. But at the end of the day, I just know that I’m 58 years old and I’m not interested in walking around bitter and with a grudge and with all of this other nonsense.
Smith’s latest remarks come nearly a year after he was confronted by James while sitting courtside after the Lakers’ 113-109 overtime win over the New York Knicks at Crypto.com Arena on March 6, 2025.
Smith has leaned on the support of his peers and colleagues when he needs it.
“There are people who helped (following the confrontation with James),” Smith said. “Charles Barkley got on me. Kenny Smith is like a brother to me, got on me. Shaq, and then guys internally, Ryan Clark, Marcus Spears. I love those brothers. They’re my brothers. And they weren’t the only ones.”
Will Stephen A. Smith make a presidential run?
Smith has dabbled in politics over the years as a media personality. He decided to expand that part of his career, hosting a show on SiriusXM radio, covering politics and news that’s happening outside of the sports world. That began in September 2025.
He’s also been mentioned as a potential 2028 presidential candidate.
“Do I desire the campaign and be on the campaign circuit and running for office? No, I do not,” Smith said. “Do I desire to be on a debate stage to call out these politicians for what they have done to compromise this country? Yes, I do.
“That’s where it gets serious for me, because you can enter the debate and then leave after the debate and decide you’re not running.”
Smith also made it clear he intends to have the opportunity to ask politicians to justify what they’ve ‘done to contribute to the chaos that’s happened in the streets of America.’
“I want you to look at us in the face and justify the divide that you’ve caused, the friction that you’ve caused,” Smith said.