Doug Gottleib Calls Stephen A. Smith A 'Race-Baiter' After LeBron, JJ Redick Comments

On Monday's "First Take" on ESPN, Stephen A. Smith delivered a report that multiple "black NBA coaches" expressed displeasure with LeBron James and J.J. Redick doing a podcast together while Darvin Ham was the coach of the Los Angeles Lakers. 

Redick is now reportedly the favorite to land that job after the Lakers fired Ham in early May. 

"Numerous coaches, black coaches, called me expressing how they took issue with that podcast taking place," Smith said. "Some of them felt very salty about that." 

Molly Qerim asked Smith why they were salty about it. 

"Because it hurt Darvin Ham," Smith said. Smith added that it was not Redick's fault, and he should have done the podcast. 

Now, the question is, why bring race into this discussion? Whether LeBron James did a podcast with J.J. Redick does not seem like it affects the Lakers' decisions about their head coach. 

Now, perhaps, James is picking Redick as the next coach. But again, if James wanted Ham gone, then Ham was going to be gone. The podcast is a non-factor. 

Fox Sports Radio host Doug Gottlieb took extreme offense to Smith's comments and accused the ESPN host of trying to start a racial conversation where it did not need to exist. 

"Let me state this very carefully," Gottlieb began. "Stephen A. Smith is a race-baiter. He is disgraceful saying that on national TV." 

Fox Sports Radio host Doug Gottlieb called ESPN's Stephen A. Smith a "race-baiter" after comments about LeBron James, JJ Redick and black NBA coaches.

(Getty Images)

Talk about not mincing words! But Gottlieb wasn't done. 

"The only one who’s making it out to be a racial thing is Stephen A. Smith. He is creating this. This is, honestly, pure evil," Gottlieb continued. 

"This is just as bad as the perception that President Trump stokes the ‘white nationalist’ flame. There's no difference. None." 

Gottlieb then compared Smith's "race-baiting" to dealing drugs. 

"[He benefits] financially from it… how's that any different than being a drug dealer, benefiting off the sorrow of others? That's what he's doing," Gottlieb said. 

Well, Stephen A. Smith is no stranger to feuding with others in the media, and it looks like we're headed toward an epic one between Smith and Doug Gottlieb. 

Stay tuned!