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Stephen A. Smith calls out LeBron James for missing Kobe Bryant’s funeral

On3 imageby:Sam Gillenwater•03/27/25•

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Kobe Bryant (Celebration of Life)
Robert Hanashiro | Imagn Images

Stephen A. Smith had a lot to say about LeBron James on ‘First Take’ this morning in the latest iteration of their dispute. Stephen A. took a shot at LeBron for two notable absences off the court during the last half-decade.

In his long, opening monologue to the show addressing the matter again on Thursday, Smith referenced a few instances where, in the past, he chose not to criticize James. That included his choices not to be at the memorial service for Kobe Bryant back in 2020, as well as the induction ceremony for Dwyane Wade into the Hall of Fame back in 2023.

“I suggest that he be happy with the things that I haven’t brought up. I never brought up, really, and never really discussed why you were not at Kobe Bryant’s memorial service. I never really brought up or discussed why you did not attend Dwyane Wade’s Hall of Fame induction when that man was directly responsible for you capturing a championship for the first time in your career. I brought up none of that,” said Smith. “I didn’t bring up the fact that, even though when people had asked, you had alluded to what had happened tragically to your son – and thank God he’s okay with his heart condition. I didn’t bring up the fact that, even though you couldn’t go to the Hall of Fame induction of Dwyane Wade weeks later, weeks earlier, you were out of the country on business. I didn’t bring that up. That’s your personal business, okay. But the fact is, you wasn’t at the Hall of Fame induction of a brotha that’s going to drastically assist to you being a Hall of Famer because he helped you become the champion that you are and he was a big brother to you.”

“I brought up none of these things. I brought up none of these things. But LeBron James, at the end of the day, wants to come at me,” Smith said.

Again, this comes after three weeks of James and Smith having run-ins with each other in person and through the media. After a confrontation three weeks ago at a game for the Lakers, Smith addressed it the next day on “First Take.” Now, just in the last day or so, James went back at him again while on ‘The Pat McAfee Show’, which led to another response by Smith on his podcast, a post by James on Instagram, and now this address on it earlier today.

With this, Smith referenced two of the biggest names in the sport next to James in Bryant and Wade. Bryant, who passed away just under four years after his retirement in a tragic helicopter crash, was a superstar in the association, as well as internationally, alongside James during the 2000s and 2010s. James was a Laker at the time of his passing and, with the memorial being in the Staples Center, his absence was at least notable one among the game’s other legends in attendance. That extended to Wade’s induction after the two played together for part of five seasons together with the Miami Heat and the Cleveland Cavaliers, including winning two championship as part of four consecutive appearances in the NBA Finals as part of The Big Three in South Beach.

Smith had much more to say on the subject in the nearly 20-minute segment this morning. These were among the more personal references, though, in bringing up Bryant, Wade, and Bronny James.

UPDATE: Smith corrects take involving James, Bryant’s memorial

During his opening statement regarding LeBron James on Thursday, Stephen A. Smith referenced his absence at the celebration of life of Kobe Bryant in 2020. However, having since been corrected on the issue, Smith has shared a tweet on the matter.

Smith said the correction during the second hour of ‘First Take’. He then posted this tweet this afternoon in an acknowledgment of the mistake, saying that it shouldn’t have even been discussed, despite taking nothing else back from what he said this morning.

“My apologies and clarification. I misspoke in Hour#1 of @FirstTake today when I intimated that LeBron did not attend Kobe Bryant’s memorial. I corrected myself in Hour#2 when I acknowledged he was indeed in attendance,” Smith wrote. “My mistake. Should not have even broached that subject. It was not my main point. I retract NOTHING else that I said. Have a nice day!”