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Stephen A. Smith actually obtained caught in 4K, however he’s nonetheless determined to face on enterprise.
Final week, throughout Sport 4 of the NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, the ESPN pundit had an eagle-eyed view of the sport. However as an alternative of being absolutely engaged, a fan from up above caught him taking part in solitaire on his telephone. He copped to it, and now he’s doubling down on a current episode of Sirius XM NBA Radio.
“I used to be doing what the hell I all the time do and for these on the market that don’t prefer it, kiss my a-s,” he stated. Smith went on to elucidate that that is removed from his first time taking part in the digital card throughout a stay sport.
“After I’m watching the sport, I’m watching the sport,” he stated. “If there’s a break within the motion —It may very well be a useless ball or a outing or one thing like that— I can play the sport for 2 seconds.”
He continues on, defending his grueling schedule as one of many hardest-working males in sports activities tv.
“I watch over 100 video games a 12 months, I’m on TV each morning for 2 hours, and that’s only one job,” he says earlier than itemizing his different commitments like NBA Countdown and SportsCenter appearances.
Smith confirms that he did really win that solitaire sport and joked that he’s glad that’s all they caught him doing on his telephone.
“I work too rattling onerous too lengthy too many hours to be anxious about what individuals assume I’m doing for 2 minutes,” he ended the dialog.
When he was caught taking part in final week, the very important host was out of the blue the topic of individuals judging his actions throughout a sport. He tried to declare it was throughout a break in play, however then video proved he was on his telephone when Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was on a quick break layup, and group notes on X additional confirmed his lie.
Even social media lurker Kevin Durant posted the incriminating photograph to his Instagram Tales with the caption “Cmon Steve.”
Smith’s strikes are beneath a stronger magnifying glass than ever earlier than as a result of, identical to the athletes he speaks on, he simply signed a large contract extension price $100 million, making him the highest-paid on-air expertise at ESPN.
He’s seemingly not going to face any punishment for his distraction, nevertheless it’s not a superb look when one of many community’s hottest speaking heads isn’t even engaged within the NBA Finals. Particularly as followers have complained about watching two small-market groups being a nap fest and nitpicking small particulars, akin to the shortage of Larry O’Brien trophy decals on the hardwood.
See social media’s response to Smith’s clapback under.
Stephen A. Smith Tells Haters “Kiss My Ass” Over Viral Solitaire Video, Social Media Rips Him As an alternative
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