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Jake Paul lays out ‘fight’ conditions with three word reaction to fans calls for LeBron James-Stephen A Smith showdown
Jake Paul knows an opportunity when he sees one. In a now deleted post on X, the 28-year-old was quick to promote the potential of a boxing fight between Stephen A Smith and LeBron James, as the fallout between the pair continued to escalate. @JakePaul via XJake Paul put out boxing flyer with Stephen A Smith and LeBron James[/caption] A boxing flyer with James and Smith plastered all over it and posted by Paul himself sent fans into a frenzy online. While it’s highly unlikely the NBA star and ESPN personality would ever get into the ring, it follows after the feud between the two opened up a new chapter. The blows initially began when cameras caught Smith and James in a heated exchange of words during the Los Angeles Lakers’ matchup against Smith’s beloved New York Knicks on March 6. Weeks later, James addressed the ‘beef’ between the pair on The Pat McAfee Show, but only after a teaser from LeBron about Giannis Antetokounmpo scoring 250pts in a game in the 70s drew a ‘disrespect’ verdict from Smith on ‘First Take’. On Wednesday’s hour long special on the McAfee show – recorded before Smith’s ‘disrespect response’, Jame said Smith was on a “Taylor Swift tour run right now.” He also appeared to mock how Smith addressed the viral clip when he said he didn’t want to initially address it. “Motherf—er, are you kidding me? If there’s one person that couldn’t wait until the video to drop so you could address it is your a–. Like, seriously?” James said. “And another (thing). He completely missed the whole point, the whole point. Never in my … never would I ever not allow people to talk about the sport, criticize players about what they do on the court. “When you take it and when you get personal with it, it’s my job to not only protect my damn household but protect the players. “I think a lot of the media, including him, and I know he’s gonna be happy as hell, he’s gonna be smiling from ear to ear when he hears me talking about him. … Like, relax bro.” Shanon Sharpe hosts First Take on ESPN with Stephen A SmithGetty This became a national story when James confronted Smith at a Lakers gameGetty Smith reacted to the news on his own podcast on Wednesday nightGetty Smith was quick to react to James’ comments on his podcast, The Stephen A Smith show, and claimed the four-time NBA champion is lying. “LeBron James is full of it. And in this particular instance – as it pertains to his son – he is a liar… he went on national television today and he lied again,” the ESPN star said. “Don’t the truth matter? Because there’s one person in this ordeal that’s telling the truth and it’s me… his a** lies a lot and there’s a lot of shady stuff he does. “I don’t like him… I have nothing to say to him now, we’ll probably never speak in life again” Smith said. However, more sensationally, Smith claimed he would have swung at James had he touched him during that courtside bust-up. “When he approached me while I was sitting courtside at that game against the New York Knicks, when he rolled up on me – I didn’t know he was going to roll up on me, I had no idea,” Smith added. NBA's Greatest Greatest NBA players in the world right now – from Luka Doncic to Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama Best players in NBA history to never win a championship – James Harden and Carmelo Anthony to Allen Iverson and Karl Malone 10 richest owners in the NBA – family empires, media moguls and investment gurus Michael Jordan’s top 10 scoring games – counting down MJ’s most extraordinary totals “But when he said what he had to say, I was in no position to give any kind of retort without making a scene… it was on national television, the cameras were rolling. You want this to be a reincarnation of Chris Rock and Will Smith? “Let me assure you, it wouldn’t have gone down like that. I would have gotten my a** kicked. Because had that man put his hands on me, I would have immediately swung on him. Immediately. That I’m not going to tolerate. “But I knew he wasn’t going to do something like that – there was no fear in my mind about it. It was shock.” Such claims from Smith, promoted a swift response from James hwo had the last laugh with his last second buzzer-beater securing a win for the Lakers over the Indian Pacers on Wednesday night. @KingJamesJames took to social media to react to Smith’s swinging claims[/caption] The 40-year-old posted a clip of Smith boxing on his Instagram, mocking his skills for his 160 million followers – a post that was immediately liked by teammate Luka Doncic who led the Lakers with 34 points. James’ buzzer beater also drew him level with Kobe Bryant and Joe Johnson on eight in the all-time buzzer-beating gamewinners list – Michael Jordan – who ‘The King revealed’ doesn’t wanna talk to me while on McAfee – leads the way on 9. Smith will likely have more to say on this topic, in what is reall
Jake Paul knows an opportunity when he sees one.
In a now deleted post on X, the 28-year-old was quick to promote the potential of a boxing fight between Stephen A Smith and LeBron James, as the fallout between the pair continued to escalate.
A boxing flyer with James and Smith plastered all over it and posted by Paul himself sent fans into a frenzy online.
While it’s highly unlikely the NBA star and ESPN personality would ever get into the ring, it follows after the feud between the two opened up a new chapter.
The blows initially began when cameras caught Smith and James in a heated exchange of words during the Los Angeles Lakers’ matchup against Smith’s beloved New York Knicks on March 6.
Weeks later, James addressed the ‘beef’ between the pair on The Pat McAfee Show, but only after a teaser from LeBron about Giannis Antetokounmpo scoring 250pts in a game in the 70s drew a ‘disrespect’ verdict from Smith on ‘First Take’.
On Wednesday’s hour long special on the McAfee show – recorded before Smith’s ‘disrespect response’, Jame said Smith was on a “Taylor Swift tour run right now.”
He also appeared to mock how Smith addressed the viral clip when he said he didn’t want to initially address it.
“Motherf—er, are you kidding me? If there’s one person that couldn’t wait until the video to drop so you could address it is your a–. Like, seriously?” James said.
“And another (thing). He completely missed the whole point, the whole point. Never in my … never would I ever not allow people to talk about the sport, criticize players about what they do on the court.
“When you take it and when you get personal with it, it’s my job to not only protect my damn household but protect the players.
“I think a lot of the media, including him, and I know he’s gonna be happy as hell, he’s gonna be smiling from ear to ear when he hears me talking about him. … Like, relax bro.”
Smith was quick to react to James’ comments on his podcast, The Stephen A Smith show, and claimed the four-time NBA champion is lying.
“LeBron James is full of it. And in this particular instance – as it pertains to his son – he is a liar… he went on national television today and he lied again,” the ESPN star said.
“Don’t the truth matter? Because there’s one person in this ordeal that’s telling the truth and it’s me… his a** lies a lot and there’s a lot of shady stuff he does.
“I don’t like him… I have nothing to say to him now, we’ll probably never speak in life again” Smith said.
However, more sensationally, Smith claimed he would have swung at James had he touched him during that courtside bust-up.
“When he approached me while I was sitting courtside at that game against the New York Knicks, when he rolled up on me – I didn’t know he was going to roll up on me, I had no idea,” Smith added.
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Best players in NBA history to never win a championship – James Harden and Carmelo Anthony to Allen Iverson and Karl Malone
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Michael Jordan’s top 10 scoring games – counting down MJ’s most extraordinary totals
“But when he said what he had to say, I was in no position to give any kind of retort without making a scene… it was on national television, the cameras were rolling. You want this to be a reincarnation of Chris Rock and Will Smith?
“Let me assure you, it wouldn’t have gone down like that. I would have gotten my a** kicked. Because had that man put his hands on me, I would have immediately swung on him. Immediately. That I’m not going to tolerate.
“But I knew he wasn’t going to do something like that – there was no fear in my mind about it. It was shock.”
Such claims from Smith, promoted a swift response from James hwo had the last laugh with his last second buzzer-beater securing a win for the Lakers over the Indian Pacers on Wednesday night.
The 40-year-old posted a clip of Smith boxing on his Instagram, mocking his skills for his 160 million followers – a post that was immediately liked by teammate Luka Doncic who led the Lakers with 34 points.
James’ buzzer beater also drew him level with Kobe Bryant and Joe Johnson on eight in the all-time buzzer-beating gamewinners list – Michael Jordan – who ‘The King revealed’ doesn’t wanna talk to me while on McAfee – leads the way on 9.
Smith will likely have more to say on this topic, in what is really a remarkable back and fourth between two huge personalities in basketball.
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