LeBron James sent shockwaves through the sports media world this week during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, where he made candid comments about ESPN personalities Stephen A. Smith and Brian Windhorst, exposing tensions that have been simmering for years. The interview, a rare instance of James speaking openly on a platform outside his own, highlighted the complex relationships he has with both men, stirring up drama that has fans and analysts buzzing.
James took aim at Windhorst, who has covered his career since his high school days, saying, “I’ve seen Brian Windhorst on one of these shows not too long ago… This guy says he’s like my f***ing best friend. These guys are just weird.” Windhorst, who began covering James as a teenager and became the youngest traveling NBA beat writer during LeBron’s rookie season with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2003, has built a career largely on his James expertise. He co-wrote The Franchise: LeBron James and the Remaking of the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2007, joined ESPN in 2010 as a Miami Heat reporter when James signed there, and later returned to Cleveland as ESPN’s Cavaliers beat reporter in 2014. Windhorst has since written three more books about James and now covers the entire NBA, but LeBron’s comments suggest he views their relationship as one-sided, calling it “manufactured” by the insider.
Smith quickly came to Windhorst’s defense on his podcast, saying, “I have worked with Brian Windhorst for years. Never once did he say that LeBron was a best friend.” He pointed out that years ago, LeBron himself acknowledged Windhorst’s deep knowledge of him, saying, “Probably nobody knows me better than Brian Windhorst, who’s been covering me since I was a junior in high school.” But Smith’s defense of Windhorst was overshadowed by his own beef with James, which escalated after LeBron’s comments on McAfee’s show. Earlier this month, James confronted Smith during a game over the ESPN personality’s critical remarks about LeBron’s son, Bronny, a rookie with the Lakers. Smith had questioned Bronny’s readiness for the NBA, prompting LeBron to defend his son publicly.
Smith later softened his stance on Bronny, saying on First Take, “That wasn’t a basketball player confronting me, that was a parent, that was a father… By all accounts, he’s obviously a wonderful family man and a wonderful father.” But LeBron’s decision to air their feud on McAfee’s show reignited Smith’s frustration. On Thursday morning, Smith went viral with a fiery rant on First Take, calling James “petty” for bringing their issues into the public eye. “That’s how petty you’ve become? … When has LeBron James ever done something like that? … This man is in his feelings,” Smith said, speculating, “Could it be because I don’t believe you’re the GOAT?”
The drama with Smith is unlikely to die down soon—Smith has a history of critiquing James, often swept under the rug until now, and he’s doubling down, even invoking Kobe Bryant and Dwyane Wade as warnings to LeBron about escalating their feud. The Windhorst situation might fade more quietly, as LeBron’s comments seem more about setting boundaries than starting a war. Still, the episode underscores the unique dynamic between James and the media. Windhorst owes much of his fame to LeBron, from his early days as a beat writer to his current role as an ESPN NBA insider, but James clearly feels the coverage has crossed into personal territory. Meanwhile, Smith’s ongoing clash with LeBron shows how even a media titan can get under the skin of a basketball legend. As the Lakers prepare for their next game against the Bulls on Saturday, James might try to distance himself from the drama—but after his McAfee appearance, that won’t be easy.
