LeBron James recently revealed that he has a distant relationship with Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan, noting that the two haven’t spoken much lately. The Los Angeles Lakers star attributed this to the fact that he is still active in the league, which leads to constant comparisons between the two. However, despite this explanation, an NBA insider now suggests that the real reason has nothing to do with basketball.
“It’s not like they’re enemies or anything like that. Jordan is living his best life, they’re not enemies,” Stephen A. Smith began on ESPN’s First Take. “It’s not about whether or not they have a relationship. The issue is why.”
Smith emphasized that knowing the details is key to understanding the situation. “A lot of times, we talk about LeBron James and their relationship or lack thereof. Sometimes, we look at both parties, and we don’t look at one party,” he said. “You’re LeBron James, you came into the league wearing 23. Now, eventually, it was to be the GOAT and to be supplanted.”
However, Smith then pointed his remarks toward James: “Just ask Hollywood about the negotiations for Space Jam 2 and some of the stipulations he insisted on in order for him to do the movie. You’ll find out some of the details. I won’t go there because we’re being nice this morning.”
LeBron James attends the Space Jam: A New Legacy Party in The Park After Dark at Six Flags Magic Mountain on June 29, 2021 in Valencia, California.
What happened with Space Jam 2?
LeBron James starred in Space Jam: A New Legacy, which premiered in 2021, taking on a role similar to the one Michael Jordan had in the original 1996 film. While the anticipation was huge and the commercial success followed, grossing over $160 million worldwide, there were details that caught people’s attention.
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Having been the star of the iconic original film, Michael Jordan was completely absent from the new version, which led many to wonder why he didn’t even make a cameo. While the accepted theory was that the Chicago Bulls legend simply had no intention of participating, Stephen A. Smith’s comments open the door to new speculation.
The conflict between LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith
Stephen A. Smith’s remarks fit within a larger context of tension with LeBron James. The Los Angeles Lakers star and the NBA analyst have been at odds after James called him out over criticism of his son, Bronny. One of the latest episodes in this feud is tied to an interview James gave on The Pat McAfee Show this week, where he talked about his relationship with Jordan.
Now, Channing Frye, a former teammate of LeBron’s with the Cleveland Cavaliers, speculated on why James chose that specific show for the interview. “Are we not going to say why I thought he did it?” Frye began on the Road Trippin’ podcast. “I didn’t ask him. I thought he did it because Stephen A. hates Pat McAfee. So he was just sniping him.”
