Ep 885 | Charles Barkley Goes to WAR with ESPN | LeBron James CONFRONTS Stephen A. Smith

The NBA is cannibalizing itself! Selfish greed has consumed the hearts of many, creating a chain reaction that has turned the league into the laughingstock of the professional sports world. On today’s special episode of "Fearless," Jason takes a deep dive into the fall of the NBA. Jordan loyalists like Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith have built multimillion-dollar media careers criticizing LeBron James — yet LeBron is supposed to take the fall for the NBA’s decline in relevance? At the same time, many misguided pundits blame the downfall of the NBA on truth-tellers like Charles Barkley and the rest of "Inside the NBA," claiming that the TNT crew is too hard on this generation of players. Barkley, on the other hand, blames ESPN for pushing a narrative that panders to the NBA’s soft stance on load management and player empowerment. The league is a hot mess. There’s an epidemic of finger-pointing as Adam Silver flounders, searching for a life raft to save this sinking ship. Steve Kim joins the show to weigh in on the current state of the NBA. How will the league survive, and can it ever return to its former glory? Meanwhile, Stephen A. Smith, who has built his career on the backs of pro athletes, has reached an agreement with ESPN on a five-year contract worth over $100 million. In the wake of this extension, LeBron James was seen confronting Smith courtside at the Knicks-Lakers game on Thursday night. Could the animosity between the media and players be reaching a breaking point? Switching over to the NFL, sack leader Trey Hendrickson has been approved by the Cincinnati Bengals to seek a trade. Maxx Crosby’s massive contract could have something to do with Hendrickson’s desire for an extension of his own. Wrapping up the show, everyone’s favorite, Shemeka Michelle, discusses white women wearing braids and Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s revealing transformation — from articulate enunciator to the Capitol Hill Crypt she is today. A thought-provoking episode of "Fearless" starts now! Fearless Army Roll Call 3.0 Roll Call 3.0 continues the mission of men encouraging each other to pursue holiness and the execution of The Great Commission (Matthew 28: 19-20) by seeking alliance and fellowship with men who share our faith, values and commitment to obey our Lord and Savior. Join hundreds of like-minded men in Nashville on May 2nd-3rd for this important conference. Lunch will be included. Tickets are available right now at https://www.fearlessrollcall.com​​ Today's Sponsors: Home Title Lock Go to https://hometitlelock.com/fearless and use promo code FEARLESS250 to get a FREE title history report so you can find out if you’re already a victim AND access to your Personal Title Expert —a $250 value— when you sign up! And make sure to check out the Million Dollar TripleLock protection details when you get there! Exclusions apply. For details visit https://hometitlelock.com/warranty. Fold Go to https://foldapp.com/whitlock right now, and new users get a bitcoin bonus with their first gift card purchase. Start earning bitcoin rewards today! We want to hear from the Fearless Army!! Join the conversation in the show chat, leave a comment or email Jason at [email protected] Visit https://TheBlaze.com. Explore the all-new ad-free experience and see for yourself how we're standing up against suppression and prioritizing independent journalism. SHOW OUTLINE 14:03 LeBron James Confronts Stephen A. Smith Courtside at Lakers Game 18:17 Charles Barkley Calls Out ESPN & Kendrick Perkins for NBA Coverage 49:01 Steve Kim: Charles Barkley Calls Out ESPN & Kendrick Perkins for NBA Coverage 1:01:50 Bengals Grant DE Trey Hendrickson Permission to Seek Trade  1:09:02 Steve Kim: LeBron James Confronts Stephen A. Smith Courtside at Lakers Game 1:17:31 Video Featuring Jasmine Crockett Reveals Stark Contrasts in her Appearance 1:32:56 Listen or Lose 1:46:23 Daily Wire CEO Jeremy Boering Goes Full Leftist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices