NBA legend Charles Barkley shares an honest take over LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith feud

The heated feud between LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith has been one of the hottest topics in the NBA. The dispute escalated when James confronted Smith courtside during the Lakers-Knicks game over the journalist’s comments about Bronny James. While some thought the incident would end there, it only ignited a larger back-and-forth exchange. While recently, NBA comissioner Adam Silver made something clear about the ongoing feud, now, Charles Barkley has weighed in with his blunt assessment.

In a recent appearance on The Dan Patrick Show, Charles Barkley was asked who had a better week between LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith. However, for the former Suns star, both had a terrible week. Barkley first addressed LeBron, who also took aim at ESPN journalist Brian Windhorst during an interview on The Pat McAfee Show.

“They both had an awful week,” Barkley said. “LeBron, he’s too big to be that type of bully. To bully Stephen A. and to bully Brian Windhorst. Brian Windhorst is a sweet person, man. He’s just trying to do his thing. And I’ve always liked LeBron, but him being a bully, it turned me off”.

Barkley didn’t spare Smith either, calling out his response to the situation. “Stephen A., the way he reacted was so lame and weak,” Barkley continued. “Stephen A.’s a good dude, man… LeBron, I blame him for starting the bullying, going on Pat’s show, just bullying people, because you know, LeBron, he’s a control freak. He knows everything he’s doing”.

“He knew when he walked up to Stephen A. what he was doing,” Barkley added. “But the way Stephen A. reacted, going on [Gilbert Arenas’] podcast, talking tough—come on, man, you’re better than that. There’s only losers, Dan, in this scenario”.

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Draymond Green calls out Smith for hypocrisy

Stephen A. Smith had previously criticized Warriors star Draymond Green for his history of on- and off-court altercations. However, after his heated exchange with James, Smith made a bold claim. “If that man [LeBron] would’ve put his hands on me, I would’ve immediately swung on him. Immediately”.

Green found Smith’s comments hypocritical and didn’t hold back during an episode of The Draymond Green Show with Baron Davis. “I was a little baffled by [Stephen A. Smith] saying that he would’ve swung on [LeBron James] after he just kind of questioned me saying, ‘When you talk like that where I’m from, you get hands put on you,’ trying to use my basketball career and things that have happened on the basketball court to try to use it against me for my next career,” Green said.

“I saw him do that. And then, to come out and do the very thing you tried to use against me, I thought was a little, not only petty, but contradictory to what you just did,” Green added.