Richard Jefferson reacts to Stephen A. Smith flip-flopping on Bronny James

Richard Jefferson and Stephen A. Smith may be colleagues at ESPN, but the former Cleveland Cavaliers champion has shown that he isn’t afraid to question the “First Take” star.

Last month, after Los Angeles Lakers rookie Bronny James had a stellar G League game, Jefferson told him to “keep grinding” and block out the “BS.” In doing so, Jefferson appeared to take a swipe at Smith by referencing some now-infamous comments that he made that were directed at the rookie’s father, Lakers star LeBron James.

Now, Jefferson is questioning Smith again.

Smith said on Friday that he “might have been wrong” about where the younger James belongs right now. He said that he thought the younger James needed to spend his rookie season in the G League but explained that he is now reconsidering his view.

He made those comments after the 20-year-old put together a very impressive performance on Thursday when the Lakers took on the Milwaukee Bucks. With L.A. missing several key players, the younger James was forced into action, and he made the most of the opportunity.

Across roughly 30 minutes of playing time, he had 17 points, three rebounds and five assists, shooting 7-for-10 from the field and 2-for-4 from beyond the arc. The Lakers were crushed by the Bucks, but his performance gave fans something to smile about throughout the game.

The younger James has been showing major signs of growth lately, and his performance on Thursday was the latest step in the right direction. He has spent time in the G League this season, where he has excelled, but he has also spent considerable time with the NBA squad.

The job isn’t done for the University of Southern California product, who still has plenty to prove. But after hearing endless amounts of outside noise, he is starting to silence the doubters, which has to be an amazing feeling for him.

Now that he’s starting to show that he’s capable of making an impact in NBA games, the immediate question becomes whether Lakers coach J.J. Redick will find more opportunities for him to see the floor during the remainder of the season.