With the Stephen A. Smith and LeBron James drama dominating the sports news cycle this week, ESPN’s Michael Wilbon did not hold back on his thoughts surrounding it all.
Wilbon, the “Pardon The Interruption” co-host, has been around both parties for a long time, but in an interview with OutKick, Wilbon expressed fatigue about the beef, which started earlier this month during a confrontation at a Lakers-Knicks game.
Since then, the two have traded barbs on the airwaves, including this week when James appeared on “The Pat McAfee Show” — which is broadcast on ESPN.
“[James] and [Smith] are both big boys. They can go at it. I refuse to even consume their beef,” Wilbon said. “People are calling me and asking me about it. … There is too much ego involved on both sides of it. I don’t give a damn about the bulls–t.”
was sitting courtside at Crypto.com Arena for the Lakers-Knicks
game at Crypto.com Arena on March 6, 2025.
And Wilbon, who has been with ESPN for more than 20 years, isn’t even sure why James is entertaining this “bulls–t.”
“No one is better than LeBron when it comes to being engaging and patient with the media. … So, I don’t know where all of this is coming from,” Wilbon said. “I still don’t understand this recent approach by LeBron. I don’t get it. It annoys me because some of these things are beneath him.”
While Wilbon is simply exhausted by the James-Smith saga, he took issue with what the Lakers star had to say about another of his longtime ESPN colleagues, Brian Windhorst.
On Wednesday’s episode of “The Pat McAfee Show,” James directed some shots toward Windhorst, who has covered James since high school.
“[Windhorst] who says he’s like my f–king best friend, these guys are just weird,” he said.
This is what has Wilbon scratching his head.
“The Windhorst comments. I’ve been around LeBron when people have asked him about something that happened two decades ago in Ohio,” Wilbon said. “[James] would respond by saying, ‘I don’t even remember that. Ask Windy. Windy will know.’ That tells me he has a respect for Windhorst that is undeniable. I know he respects Windhorst. So, why say this now?”
While Smith seems to live for this drama, Wilbon doesn’t see the same with Windhorst.
“[Windhorst] takes his job seriously. Brian is accountable, which a lot of people in this business today are not,” Wilbon added. “That pisses me off. … Brian is not a show monkey. He is not out here drawing attention to himself with some ego or agenda. Brian Windhorst is great at what he does. I will vouch for him anytime, against anyone. And if I were talking to LeBron right now, I’d say that to his face.
“Our business is just s–t some days.”
Windhorst, for what it’s worth, took the high road during an appearance on ESPN Cleveland on Thursday.
“LeBron doesn’t owe me anything. I owe him a lot,” Windhorst said. “He has been a great friend to my hometown and my alma mater. That I would stand on. Anything else, I would never say or never stand on.
“Just know, I met LeBron 25 years ago. And my understanding of LeBron and where people stand in his life has been crystal clear.”