Stephen A. Smith: “I might have been wrong”, about Bronny James’ NBA readiness

Stephen A. Smith is not quite ready to admit that he was wrong about Bronny James.

But the ESPN personality laid the foundation for such an entry in “First Take” in the morning after the son and teammate of the Lakers superstar LeBron James played his best NBA game.

Two weeks earlier, after Smith had been confronted with an angry LeBron for comments about his son, Smith had gone the same air waves to say that he was not disrespectful when he felt that Bronny was in the G -Liga as a newcomer.

On Friday, however, Smith said to the audience: “I might have been wrong.”

Read more: Stephen A. Smith says, LeBron James, who was confronted, was “weak”: “I talked about you, not Bronny

This recognition came, after Bronny, in the absence of several teammates-in one father Luka Doncic, Austin Reaves, Rui Hachimura, Vanderbilt and Dorian Finney-Smith-AM Thursday against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwake Bucks by Giannis Antetokounmpo and The Milwauke Bucks.

The result could have been a loss of blowout for the Lakers, but Bronny had a breakthrough performance. His 17 points and five assists in 30 minutes were all career height, and his three rebounds tied his NBA best.

“I was very impressed,” said Smith. “I was very impressed because I saw an increase in his trust and attitude. It was as if it hadn’t really amazed him. He didn’t look as nervous as he had looked at the basketball court in previous appearances. He looked like someone who belonged.

“There were a few steps that he published on the pitch on the pitch in which the basket ended, ended at the basket, raised for jumpers, three, 17 points, seven out of 10 from the field of Traf-I was impressed.”

He added: “And if this type of thing continues, he will be in the league earlier than later in the league. A game does not make this determination. They have to do more than that. But I wanted to make sure that I emphasized this point.”

Smith was sitting in the Crypto.com arena for the Lakers-Knicks game on March 6th when Lebron turned to him during a break and appealed angrily. The next day Smith said that LeBron came up “to confront me that it is what I am saying about his son.”

Read more: Bronny James Credits concentrated

On Friday, Smith repeated what he has said several times since the incident that he never disregarded Bronny.

“But I believed that he belonged to the G league to improve the NBA level,” said Smith. “What may have been wrong is that it is obviously with JJ Redick and that employees and the rest of the Los Angeles Lakers – combined with the G league who go back and forth – may be wonders for him when we expected.

“And I will keep the same energy. If it plays well, we will give him props. If he doesn’t play well, we will say it. This is what covers the league.

Get the best, most interesting and strangest stories of the day from the La Sports scene and beyond our newsletter, the sports report.

This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.