Stephen A. Smith Retracts Saying LeBron Wasn’t at Kobe Memorial

The feud between ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith and Los Angeles Lakers ahead LeBron James continued when Smith said that LeBron didn’t attend the late Kobe Bryant’s memorial service. Nonetheless, he needed to retract that assertion when he was knowledgeable that LeBron was in attendance.

Based on Mediaite, after LeBron had some phrases to say in regards to the crucial sports activities announcer on The Pat McAfee Present, Smith appeared on his First Take program and criticized the longer term NBA Corridor of Famer and said that LeBron doesn’t need him to debate different points not associated to basketball. He then went on to say that he “by no means introduced up” that LeBron was not at Kobe’s service nor was he there when his “Banana Boat Crew” buddy and former teammate, Dwyane Wade, was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Corridor of Fame.

“If LeBron James desires to see me proceed to cowl the game, or he desires to have an issue with me constantly masking the game, I counsel that he’d be pleased with the issues that I haven’t introduced up,” Smith mentioned. “I by no means introduced up, actually — and by no means actually mentioned — why you weren’t at Kobe Bryant’s memorial service. I by no means actually introduced up and mentioned why you didn’t attend Dwyane Wade’s Corridor of Fame induction when that man was immediately chargeable for you capturing a championship for the primary time in your profession. I introduced up none of that.”

Stephen A. Smith on LeBron James: “I counsel that he be pleased with the issues that I haven’t introduced up. I by no means introduced up actually and by no means actually mentioned why you weren’t at Kobe Bryant’s memorial service. I by no means actually introduced up or mentioned why you didn’t attend Dwyane… pic.twitter.com/Wji02Zidej

— Terrible Saying (@awfulannouncing) March 27, 2025

In a later phase on the present, Smith mentioned a number of folks texted him to tell him that LeBron was, certainly, at Kobe’s memorial service. Smith seemingly apologized however didn’t acknowledge that he was incorrect, however, admitingly mentioned that he was advised that LeBron “was within the constructing.”

As an alternative of acknowledging he erred in stating LeBron wasn’t there, he mentioned, “I didn’t imply to say he wasn’t within the constructing. I used to be advised he was within the constructing, you perceive, however we noticed an entire bunch of gamers on the market. We didn’t see him. Why? I’ll let him reply that in the future if he so chooses.”

My apologies and clarification. I misspoke in Hour#1 of @FirstTake at this time after I intimated that LeBron didn’t attend Kobe Bryant’s memorial. I corrected myself in Hour#2 after I acknowledged he was certainly in attendance. My mistake. Mustn’t have even broached that topic. It…

— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) March 27, 2025

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