NBA commissioner makes something clear about LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith feud

In recent days, the NBA spotlight has been fixed on the heated exchange between Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith during a game at Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks. The incident unfolded courtside as James confronted Smith, urging him to stop criticizing his son, Bronny James. Addressing the controversy, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver shared his perspective during a press conference.

“I received several texts that said, ‘Are you watching this?’” Silver remarked during a recent press conference, referring to the exchange between Smith and James. “We are a particular sport in which that kind of debate seems to be a part of this league“.

Silver also reflected on the unique nature of media coverage in the NBA, which he described as less celebratory compared to other major sports leagues. “It seems to be more celebratory often than it is in the NBA, and I accept it,” Silver said. “We’re often the beneficiary, too. There’s seemingly as much social media interest in this league at times in all the other leagues combined”.

“So, it’s a two-edged sword. Sometimes, it’s measured in column inches, and it’s wonderful to see so much interest in our sport. At the other time, I cringe at a lot of the coverage,” he added.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver speaks to media at a press conference during 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend at Chase Center. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Finally, Silver expressed his desire to see more media focus on the sport itself rather than off-court controversies. “I would just say in terms of that back and forth again, I haven’t had an opportunity to watch or read precisely what went on today, but of course we’d like the focus to be on the play on the floor,” Silver concluded.

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LeBron James calls out former players turned analysts

As Adam Silver recently admitted to occasionally cringing at the media coverage of the NBA, many players and fans have echoed similar concerns about how the league is portrayed. One of the most vocal critics has been Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, who addressed the issue during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.

James specifically took aim at former NBA players who have transitioned into media roles, criticizing their ability to analyze the game at a high level. According to James, while these analysts may have excelled on the court due to their physical abilities, they often lacked the intellectual depth to dissect the sport.

“A lot of those guys that played the game, they played the game while they were talented,” James said. “I don’t think they thought the game or were ever smart. They were just bigger, stronger, and maybe faster, and they dominated, and when it was over, it was over”.

Silver acknowledges the new All-Star format ‘was a miss’

This year, the NBA experimented with a revamped All-Star Game format, introducing a mini-tournament style event that drew widespread criticism from fans and players alike. Silver admitted the changes fell short of expectations.

“I thought we made almost an immeasurable amount of progress,” Silver said, via Tom Reynolds. “Sitting there, I thought this was a little better, but this was a miss. We’re not there in terms of creating an All-Star experience that we can be proud of and our players can be proud of”.