Stephen A. Smith’s altercation with LeBron James last week left many with a negative opinion of the longtime ESPN personality, and that includes one of his former colleagues at the network.

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In a clip released through Outkick, former ESPN host Dan Dakich called Smith a “coward” for how he’s handled the situation with James, as well as the resulting backlash from doubling down on his opinion.

“Is there anything funnier than watching Stephen A. Smith try to do this? Now he’s swearing, now acting like a tough guy, acting like a hood guy,” Dakich said.

“When he was such a [expletive]. He would never say this to LeBron when it’s one-on-one, no media around. No cops around. It was just two men. I didn’t see him saying nothing, and now listen to him. There’s no bigger coward in media, ever, than Stephen A. Smith.”

Dakich referred to comments that Smith made on the “Gil’s Arena” podcast, where he called James “weak” for approaching him publicly about the matter rather than handling things privately.

“Rather than come up to me at courtside, all you had to do was say ‘I need to see you after the game.’ You didn’t do that [expletive],” Smith said on the podcast.

ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith.

DALLAS, TEXAS – JUNE 12: ESPN commentator Stephen A. Smith reports before Game Three of the 2024 NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center on June 12, 2024 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tim Heitman/Getty Images)
Tim Heitman/Getty Images

“You said ‘you [expletive]-ing with my son,’ No I wasn’t! I was talking about you! It wasn’t about your son. I know he’s number 55. I know he’s got work to do.

I believe that he’s got the potential and by the way, I’m rooting for him. I ain’t rooting against nobody! But I was talking about your ass! You! You did this!”

James is currently working to get back on the court after suffering a groin injury in the Lakers’ game against the Boston Celtics last weekend. The Lakers are looking to clinch home-court advantage through at least the first round of the playoffs, if not longer.

James has likely said all that he needs to to Smith after addressing the matter in person, but it seems that Smith isn’t ready to let it go – even if it seems like no one else in sports media is on his side.