Dwyane Wade takes side with LeBron James amid his feud with Stephen A. Smith involving Bronny James

LeBron James has found a strong supporter in his longtime friend and former teammate,Dwyane Wade, amid his public dispute with ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith. The controversy erupted on March 6, 2025, when LeBron confronted Smith courtside at Crypto.com Arena after the analyst made comments about LeBron’s handling of his son, Bronny James, in the NBA. The heated moment, captured on video, saw LeBron expressing his frustration over what he perceived as undue criticism of his son.

LeBron James’ was clearly upset as he had a verbal confrontation with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith after his criticism of Bronny James. Dwyane Wade, who has made his name as an ideal parent of five kids, has recently extended his support for his long-time pal, James.
In an exclusive interview with TMZ Sports, Wade defended James’ response to Smith’s remarks, making it clear that he would have acted the same way in his position.
"I would have walked up on him the same way," Wade told Smith directly after the incident, emphasizing that family is off-limits when it comes to criticism.

Smith later shared that he understands the frustration of the 40-year-old, but according to him, the confrontation should have happened behind closed doors. Speaking on Gilbert Arenas’ podcast, Smith stated, "Rather than come up to me at courtside, all you had to do was say, 'Yo, I need to see you after the game.' You didn’t do that sh**. You said you f***ing with my son. No, I wasn’t! I was talking about you! It wasn’t about your son."
Smith also claimed that his criticisms weren’t directed at Bronny personally but rather at LeBron’s decision to push his son into the NBA spotlight prematurely. Earlier in January, following a Lakers loss to the 76ers, Smith had been vocal about his concerns, saying, “I am pleading with LeBron James as a father. Stop this.” He continued, “We all know that Bronny James is in the NBA because of his dad.”

According to Smith, Bronny himself seemed affected by the criticism. During a timeout in the first quarter of the Knicks game, Smith recalled seeing Bronny glance his way with a "sad look on his face." He speculated that this reaction may have fueled LeBron’s decision to approach him courtside.
The feud escalated further when a video surfaced of James discussing Smith’s remarks with former teammate and ESPN analyst Richard Jefferson. In the clip, LeBron seemed frustrated, saying, "Once he talks about, ‘I’m pleading you as a father,’ I can’t." Smith later responded, calling LeBron’s reaction "weak" but admitted, "In the moment, I knew that I was listening to a father."
Also Read: LeBron James Confronts ESPN's Stephen A. Smith Courtside After Los Angeles Lakers' Overtime Win Against New York Knicks
James’ agent, Rich Paul, has downplayed the controversy, insisting that both sides have moved on. Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show, Paul acknowledged that media discussions can sometimes feel personal but believes that handling disputes with maturity is important. "I didn’t think it was much, but as adults, you try to handle things the best way possible, so I was glad they were able to move on," he said. Paul also pointed out that while analysts have the right to critique players, there needs to be a balance to avoid making it too personal.