NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith has apologised for falsely claiming that Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James did not attend the memorial service for the late NBA legend Kobe Bryant.
His statement was proven incorrect, as James was indeed present at the event.
Smith’s comments sparked outrage on social media, with many basketball fans and pundits criticising him for even raising the topic.
“My apologies and clarification. I misspoke in Hour #1 of @FirstTake today when I intimated that LeBron did not attend Kobe Bryant's memorial,” Smith wrote on X.
“I corrected myself in Hour #2 when I acknowledged he was indeed in attendance. My mistake.
“I should not have even broached that subject. It was not my main point.
“I retract NOTHING else that I said. Have a nice day!”
Smith and James have been at odds since the analyst made comments about Bronny James.
James appeared to fuel the tension during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show this week, where he discussed Smith.
