Sun Mar 30 02:50:00 UTC 2025: ## NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Addresses LeBron James-Stephen A. Smith Feud
**NEW YORK** – NBA Commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged the ongoing feud between Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith, calling the back-and-forth “fascinating” while expressing concern over the personal nature of the dispute.
Silver, speaking to reporters Thursday after a meeting with league owners, admitted to receiving numerous texts about the escalating conflict. While acknowledging the significant media attention surrounding the NBA – sometimes to the league’s benefit – he expressed frustration with the often negative and personal nature of the coverage. He stated that he is often jealous of the more celebratory coverage given to other leagues.
“I cringe at a lot of the coverage,” Silver said. “I would just say in terms of that back and forth…we’d like the focus to be on the play on the floor. And I particularly feel protective of our players.”
The feud stems from Smith’s earlier criticisms of Bronny James’ NBA prospects, which he suggested were largely due to his father’s fame. This ignited a heated exchange, with James confronting Smith at a Lakers game and the argument continuing this week through various media appearances. Silver, while acknowledging the significant media interest in the NBA, emphasized his hope for a shift in focus back to the game itself.
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