Former NBA forward Matt Barnes has publicly blasted Stephen A. Smith after the ESPN analyst criticized LeBron James for his recent comments about Memphis.
The drama began when LeBron appeared on a podcast and casually referred to Memphis and Milwaukee as “boring” NBA cities. He even joked that the Grizzlies should consider relocating to Nashville.
Stephen A. Smith jumped in on his show, arguing that LeBron failed to consider how an NBA team leaving Memphis could hurt the city, Black community. He framed LeBron’s remark as irresponsible and disrespectful.
In a strongly worded video, Barnes accused Smith of being selective with his outrage and inconsistent with his own past comments. He suggested Smith LeBron as an easy ignoring similar remarks he has made himself.
“You’ve been disrespecting Serena Williams, Jasmine Crockett, Kamala Harris and tap dancing for the whole white Republican Party,” Barnes said. “But you’ve got a problem with LeBron talking about a trending topic?”
Barnes also reminded viewers that the idea of the Grizzlies relocating isn’t new. Discussions about the team’s arena situation and their lease expiring in 2029 have been circulating for years.
Stephen A., meanwhile, has made his position clear. He insists he was speaking from a place of concern for Memphis and its residents. But critics have pointed out that he has previously questioned Memphis’ safety.
Barnes’ criticism quickly went viral, highlighting the increasing tension between former players and modern sports media personalities.
For now, both sides seem firm in their stance. But one thing is certain: this feud has added yet another twist to the ongoing saga surrounding LeBron’s comments.