In the midst of a heated social media beef, an NBA Hall of Famer has to be a calming presence.
Charles Barkley has said some controversial things in his career, but he is prepared for this feud between LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith to end. The 1993 NBA’s Mot Valuable Player, 11-time All-Star, and analyst on TNT called out James and Smith during an interview on the Dan Patrick Show. Barkley did not mince words with either of the two — calling James a ‘bully’ and Smith ‘weak’ for the beef.
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“I’ve always liked LeBron, but him being a bully, it turned me off. But I will say this, Stephen A., the way he reacted, was so lame and weak.”
– Charles Barkley on the ongoing LeBron James/Stephen A. Smith saga. pic.twitter.com/sS9weLivcs
— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) March 28, 2025
“They both had an awful week,” Barkley said in answering who would he take between James and Smith.
“LeBron, he is too big to be that type of bully. To bully Stephen A. and to bully Brian Windhorst … Brian Windhorst is a sweet person, man. He is just trying to do his thing. I’ve always liked LeBron, but him being a bully, it turned me off. But I will say this, Stephen A., the way he reacted, was so lame and weak. Stephen A. is a good dude, for him to react, I blame LeBron for starting the bullying. The way Stephen A. reacted, going on Gilbert Arenas’ podcast, talking tough, man you are better than that.”
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Barkley said both are ‘losers’ in the beef.
Smith critiqued James’ son, Bronny, on not being ready for the NBA when James put the attention on Bronny before he entered the recent draft. LeBron did not like the way Smith critiqued his son and took it personal court side with Smith in a matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and New York Knicks. The feud has been ugly since then, though, Bronny has been balling out in the G-League and has had some good moments in the NBA for the Lakers. Smith and the elder James do not like each other.
Barkley wants both to grow up, but we will see what happens.
Stephen M. Smith is a writer for Ball Exclusives. You can follow him him X via @CoachingMSmith.
