ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith and Phoenix Suns’ star Kevin Durant have recently traded jabs on social media that originally stemmed from Smith’s questions regarding Durant’s leadership on the floor. But the animosity between the two has quickly become far bigger than strictly a basketball conversation.
On Sunday, Durant took to social media to respond to the criticism from Smith, slamming him by calling him a “clown” and claiming that he has never seen him at shootarounds or practices, instead just “talking s*** about players on TV”.
“Yeah, Stephen A., I don’t understand how people even listen to Stephen A.,” Durant told The Athletic. “I’ve been in the league for 18 years. I’ve never seen Stephen A. at a practice, or a film session, or a shoot-around. I’ve never seen him anywhere but on TV talking s*** about players. … He’s a clown to me. He’s always been a clown. You can write that, too.”
Unsurprisingly, Smith responded on Monday’s edition of First Take, reminding Durant of his background as a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer far before he ever became the figurehead of sports debate at ESPN.
“Respectfully, Kevin Durant, could you stop lying, please? I’ve been an NBA reporter and I was a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer as well,” said Smith. “Kevin Durant has seen me in the locker room when he was at Oklahoma City. He has seen me in the locker room when he was at Golden State. He has certainly seen me at games throughout his career.
“But unfortunately for him, I don’t have to be at shootaround and I don’t have to be in the postgame locker room. I happen to have a hit show that’s been No. 1 for 12 years. I have other things to do with my time. I go to games all the time. I’m not a beat writer anymore. So let’s get that out the way.”
Smith further expanded on his response to Durant later on Monday on his The Stephen A. Smith Show podcast. There, he questioned why Durant’s production company, 35 Ventures, had reached out to him to be a part of numerous docuseries if he is such a “clown”.
“I’m a clown? Is that why your team called me to be a part of your documentary? New York City Point Gods? 35 Ventures, if I remember correctly, executive produced. Is that why you called me? Because I am a clown? It’s your docuseries, it’s your company. You run the show, you executive produced it. How come y’all called me?
“A Kid from Coney Island, the story about Stephon Marbury. Didn’t you executive produce that too, along with Marbury? How come you called me for that one? Why? When you had The Boardroom and you sat down with people to interview them one-on-one, didn’t you call me to do that interview? By the way, didn’t you show up on First Take?
“Sitting right across from me, a clown, remember that? By the way, go back and do your homework, what was one of your largest-rated episodes for The Boardroom? When my man Jay Williams was the host. On the occasion that you would be sitting across from the people you are talking about, which would be me. But we’re just going to ignore that, right?
“Okay, fine. The facts are the facts for everybody to see. New York City Point Gods, A Kid from Coney Island. I would encourage all of you to watch it. 35 Ventures, Stephon Marbury, everybody did a great job with that stuff. I’m featured in it quite heavily, I might add. A clown, that is me.”
Smith’s point is a valid one. If Durant simply sees Smith as a clown who only sits on TV and talks poorly of players around the NBA, why would he want to go into business with Smith around the many documentaries he has produced?
Say what you will about Smith regarding his lengthy history of hot takes on First Take. But he has been around the NBA for quite a long time dating back to his columnist days, which is exactly why Durant likely wanted Smith involved in his films.
Regardless, it’s hard to imagine this will be the end of this beef between Durant and Smith. And they have gone back and forth on numerous occasions over the years. But it’s interesting to see Smith bring up the times Durant’s company has asked him to participate in their films.
