LeBron James and ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith have had a back-and-forth from a distance the past few weeks. 

James, the unofficial spokesperson for the NBA, has always freely spoken his mind on the state of the relationship that exists between the league and the media.

The James-Smith feud stems from James’ comments regarding young NBA players not wanting to be the “face of the league” because of unfair media scrutiny. 

“Why do you want to be the face of the league when all the people that cover our game and talk about our game on a day-to-day basis (expletive) on everybody?” James said.

Smith took exception to James’ comments, responding the very next day. Smith felt James aimed his comments directly at him. 

“When he talks about people covering the league, we know he’s talking about me,” Smith said.

On Thursday night, after nearly two weeks of indirect comments through the media, James had a few words with Smith in person after the Los Angeles Lakers vs. New York Knicks game Thursday night.

James has two sons, Bronny and Bryce, with Bronny currently splitting time between the Lakers and their G-League affiliate, the South Bay Lakers. James’ latest comments follow Stephen A. Smith’s remarks in January on “First Take,” where Smith urged James to stop promoting Bronny as an NBA prospect.

“I am pleading with LeBron James as a father: Stop this. Stop this. We all know that Bronny James is in the NBA because of his dad,” Smith said.

Smith, fresh off a reported five-year, $100 million contract with ESPN, will have a chance to respond on “First Take” on Friday morning.