NFL star tears into Stephen A. Smith after basketball legend LeBron James' Memphis comments spark debate

The LeBron James Memphis debate just took a sharp turn. What began as a blunt take from the NBA star has now dragged in NFL voices. After a lot of chatter, NFL legend Terrell Owens jumped in and made sure the noise got louder.

This is no longer just about Memphis or the Grizzlies. It is now about who gets to speak, who gets called out, and how far that criticism can go. And Owens did not hold back for a second.

NFL legend Terrell Owens escalates LeBron debate as Stephen A. Smith draws fire

On his Insta story, NFL star Terrell Owens slammed Smith. Owens wrote, “I told y’all this n— was a clown and ain’t about ��.” It was the direct shot at Smith.

The spark came earlier this week when LeBron spoke on the Bob Does Sports YouTube show. He took a swipe at Memphis, saying he would not enjoy being there at this stage of his career and even suggested the team should move to Nashville. He also joked he might have “pulled an Eli Manning” back in 2003

That remark has caught widespread attention. But things really heated up the next day. Then, Stephen A. Smith addressed it on ESPN. He pushed back hard.“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.”

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 and are living there. I did it right here, on the mic with the cameras rolling. Dead serious as hell,” Smith exclaimedl, Smith said, pointing to Memphis’ community and economic impact.

That argument did not land well everywhere. Also, former NBA player Matt Barnes fired back on Instagram. He questioned Smith’s stance and called out what he saw as selective criticism. Barnes said, “You’ve been the same man… disrespecting Serena Williams… but you got an issue with LeBron.”


The reaction also ties back to history. Owens had earlier taken aim at Smith on the All The Smoke podcast, accusing him of twisting stories and pushing a negative narrative. That tension clearly has not cooled.


Now the story has layers. LeBron’s Memphis take lit the fuse. Smith tried to frame the bigger picture. Barnes questioned his credibility. And Owens? He poured fuel on the fire. At this point, this is not just a debate. It is a full-blown clash across leagues, voices, and reputations. And with names this big involved, it is only getting louder.







Stay updated with the latest IPL news on Times of India. Follow the IPL Schedule, check the IPL Points Table, and track the race for the IPL Orange Cap and IPL Purple Cap.