Draymond Green Responds To Stephen A. Smith’s Beef With LeBron James
Draymond Green Responds To Stephen A. Smith's Beef With LeBron James
Draymond Green publicly criticized Stephen A. Smith for comments made about LeBron James and his son Bronny. Green called Smith “weak” for making remarks about LeBron as a father during television broadcasts while staying behind a camera.
The dispute began when Smith made comments that Green felt were disrespectful to LeBron’s role as a father. Green, a close friend of LeBron, defended him strongly, pointing out the hypocrisy of Smith calling LeBron “weak” for confronting him when Smith was taking shots at LeBron’s family on national television.
Green emphasized that Smith wasn’t properly fulfilling his professional responsibilities at ESPN, where he has a significant contract. The Golden State Warriors forward made it clear that discussing a player’s family, particularly their role as a parent, crosses a line that shouldn’t be breached in sports commentary.
“A lot of problems that guys have with media is, to call something that that man did is bullsh*t and weak,” he said.
“Those are words where, when we grew up, you get your hands put on you. I think the problem is that you go on there and say ‘Oh, that’s weak.’ Calling another man weak, that’s just not basketball, which is actually what LeBron was saying in the first place — like let’s keep it basketball. Because calling a man weak, that’s not basketball and you’re paid to talk about basketball.”
Green also had an issue with comments that Smith made on Gilbert Arenas’ podcast afterwards.
“You call LeBron weak for stepping to you but you’re taking shots at him as a father on TV, behind a camera. Most would say that’s weak. You’re paid to analyze and debate on the show,” he continued.
Green also took issue with Smith’s original message.
“You go on national TV calling out this black father who has raised another successful black young man and you’re going to call him out as a father because his son plays in the NBA? That’s a** backward. You are on national TV condemning a black man as a father because his son his playing in the NBA? Like, how does that even make sense? If you wanna talk about him as a basketball player, then talk about him as a basketball player,” he said.
Smith has yet to respond to Green’s comments.
Jennifer Withers Hoey is a former Business Development Manager who transitioned to writing about sports. With valuable connections all over the West Coast, she has used those contacts to break some of the most interesting stories pertaining to the Portland Trail Blazers, Oregon Ducks, LA Lakers, LA Clippers, Seattle Supersonics (RIP), and more.
