ESPN host Stephen A. Smith suggested LeBron James’ treatment of certain people may be influenced by their race. 

Smith, in an interview on “The Pivot Podcast” with Ryan Clark, addressed his recent interactions with James and appeared to reference an incident when James confronted Smith at a Lakers’ game in March. 

“You ever see LeBron go at a White boy? Let’s call it what it is. You ever see him do that? You’ll say you saw him come at me,” Smith said. 

Smith appeared to be addressing the incident and Smith’s past criticism of James’ Lakers’ handling of the superstar’s son, Bronny James. 

“Anybody with professional ethics, who knows sports and knows what comes with it knows that I did not do anything wrong to that young man. But to paint me as somebody that would attack a child, just because I dislike you, it’s low, it’s low,” Smith said. 

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After a Los Angeles Lakers game against the New York Knicks in March, Smith revealed the incident stemmed from his televised criticisms of Bronny. 

“That wasn’t a basketball player confronting me. That was a parent. That was a father,” Smith said on ESPN. “I can’t sit here and be angry or feel slighted by LeBron James in that regard. By all accounts, he’s obviously a wonderful family man and father who cares very, very deeply about his son.

Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and ESPN host Stephen A. Smith speak before a game in LA March 3, 2022. (Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)

James pushed back against that notion in an interview on “The Pat McAfee Show” on ESPN later that month. 

“Never would I ever not allow people to talk about the sport, criticize players about what they do on the court. That is your job — to criticize or be in a position where, OK, a guy is not performing … that is all part of the game. When you take it and when you get personal with it, it’s my job to not only protect my damn household but protect the players,” James said. 

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The NBA has suspended an employee without pay for two weeks after he appeared to celebrate the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

In an email to Fox News Digital on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the association confirmed that the employee “violated multiple NBA policies.”

According to OutKick, which first reported the incident, the former employee called Kirk a “terrible person” and a “s—hole” in an Instagram story.

In a post the employee shared that asked what Kirk’s “legacy” was, the employee wrote that he did not have one.

“Did absolutely nothing healthy for the world except spew dangerous rhetoric… There is no legacy,” the post read.

“Oh I also forgot to include ‘thoughts and prayers.’ LMAO,” another post read.

The NBA told OutKick on Oct. 6 that it was “looking into” the matter but did not provide another update until announcing the suspension Wednesday, after multiple requests for comment from Fox News Digital and OutKick.

Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA speaks during the Turning Point Action conference, July 15, 2023, in West Palm Beach, Florida. (Lynne Sladky/AP Photo)

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It is unclear when the suspension was handed down or what policies were broken. The NBA has not responded to an email from Fox News Digital about those details. 

Kirk, who would have turned 32 on Tuesday, was assassinated at Utah Valley University while debating college students. He was shot while being asked about gun violence.

President Donald Trump awarded Kirk with a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom Tuesday in a ceremony that Kirk’s widow, Erika, attended.

U.S. President Donald Trump posthumously awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to late conservative activist Charlie Kirk as he presents the Medal to his wife Erika Kirk (L) during a ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House on Oct. 14, 2025, in Washington, D.C.  (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Kirk’s “Turning Point USA” announced earlier this month that it would host its own halftime show for the Super Bowl in San Francisco, shortly after the NFL announced that Bad Bunny would perform at Levi’s Stadium.

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With a sixth year of basketball eligibility at UC Irvine, former St. Francis High guard Andre Henry has become so familiar with coach Russell Turner that both consider each other family.

Henry, who was injured last season after nine games, is back healthy, and Turner thinks he’s ready to be a standout on offense and defense this season.

He calls Henry one of the finest recruits he ever signed out of St. Francis in 2020. In 2023-24, he was the Big West Conference defensive player of the year.

“Andre was probably the top-ranked recruit we ever got,” said Turner, in his 16th season. “I watched him elevate his team at St. Francis and he’s still that type of personality. I’m thrilled where is right now and he’s going to have a great season on both sides of the ball. There’s not a limit he can accomplish.”

Turner said he’s grateful for Henry’s loyalty and commitment to the UC Irvine basketball program.

“Andre has become family with me and my staff,” he said. “He’s made great sacrifices to remain in our program. I think he sees we’re committed to him and I certainly see how committed he and his family have been to us. Hopefully, we can write the end to a great story in his sixth year.”

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.