Stephen A. Smith slams LeBron James for Memphis comments, despite making very similar points last year

LeBron James is facing criticism for recent comments on a YouTube show toward Memphis and the Grizzlies, the latest prominent figure to question whether the city should have an NBA franchise in recent years.

In the interview with Bob Does Sports, James joked that a star athlete his age would not be staying at the Hyatt “in Memphis on a f*cking random-a** Thursday.” James added that NBA stars are largely in agreement that the team needs to move, listing Nashville as a logical in-state relocation destination.

As the pushback to James’ strange comments gained steam online, his foe Stephen A Smith took to multiple platforms on Friday to add to the criticism against James.

While Smith weighing in on a story that paints James in a negative light should come as no surprise after their prolonged public feud last year, the unusual element of Smith’s decision in this case was that he had levied a very similar criticism against Memphis just last summer.

Smith stated that NBA players “don’t feel like it’s the safest environment,” and insisted that local authorities “clean some of that stuff up.” The take drew the ire of Grizzlies star Ja Morant as well as the city’s mayor, while being co-opted by local far-right politicians as evidence of the city’s crime problem.

But on his SiriusXM radio show and on First Take, Smith drew a distinction between his charges against the city and James’.

“When I spoke, I spoke about what this city needs in order to look out for the vast majority of its citizens who happen to be Black that are living there. I did it right here, on the mic with the cameras rolling. Dead serious as hell,” Smith said.

“Because I ain’t trying to let nobody off the hook on that. I wasn’t dressed in shorts, lolligagging on the golf course with a bunch of peeps that don’t look anything like the folks that reside in Memphis. That’s where it was foul.”

Smith then acknowledged James’ work in the community in Cleveland and said some of James’ comments were in fact “wise.” But Smith believes that being critical of the city in a digital show hosted by white content creators was insensitive.

“Optics matter. Appearances matter,” Smith said. “And words coming out of LeBron James’ mouth about such a sensitive subject required a little bit more seriousness to the subject.”

The status of Memphis as an NBA city has been debated again recently as the league explores expansion. Adding two new teams in Seattle and Las Vegas, which seems to be the plan for now, could mean that teams in the middle of the country change to the Eastern Conference.

The news has led some to argue for other cities to receive expansion teams, including Stephen A. Smith. Last month on First Take, Smith, like James, suggested Nashville should get a team.

However, Smith made a point of noting that Memphis should not lose its team in order for the popular bachelorette trip destination to get one.

“I don’t want that to happen to that city,” Smith said.

This week, he echoed that point, evincing the value he believes the team provides to the local economy and culture.

But on both counts, these appear to be among the narrowest of differences between what James and Smith are arguing. While Memphis officials work to change the city’s reputation and improve the community, Smith is seemingly wading into a conversation that he has already found himself on the wrong side of previously just to score cheap points over the Los Angeles Lakers star.