Michelle Beadle couldn’t help but laugh at LeBron James and Stephen A. Smith rebutting in the public eye.
The former host of ESPN’s “NBA Countdown,” who previously had his own grip with James, explained that the situation looked fake, especially after the Lakers star appeared on the “Pat McCuffy Show” on Wednesday.
“This feels like a WWE situation at this point,” Beadle told Fan Duel TV on the “Run It Back” show on Thursday. “No coincidence, it’s Pat McAfee, now one of the faces of WWE.
“It all feels fake to me. Within five minutes of this being released, Stephen A. Smith is now putting out a video.”
Smith and James have publicly rebutted the four-time NBA champions since faced a “first take” host on March 6th in overtime with the Knicks in Los Angeles.
The Lakers superstar was pissed off by Smith’s comments on ESPN in January about his son Bronnie James.
James, who appeared on Thursday’s “Pat McAfee Show,” was his first public address to the incident, saying Smith had made it personal.
James argued that he only spoke publicly about the conflict as the video on the court went viral.
Beadle – said years ago James tried to fire her on ESPN – especially enjoyed it.
“Chef’s kiss!” said Beadle, who left ESPN in 2019.
Beadle smirked at the idea of choosing between Smith and James.
She said that comments about James’ ESPN NBA reporter Brian Windhorst — who said Windhorst claims they are best friends — were unnecessary.
“We’ve entered a really strange territory,” Beadle said. “LeBron is where he lost a lot of people in an interview on Wednesday, because the carefree Stephen A., is when he chases after Brian Windhorst, who has been covering him since he was a kid.
“I really didn’t get it. It felt very unprovoked, unnecessary and a bit bullied.”
