Stephen A. Smith did not take long to respond to the insult hurled at him by Phoenix Suns superstar forward Kevin Durant. It can be recalled that Durant called the ESPN personality a “clown” during a recent interview with The Athletic. During Monday’s episode of “First Take,” Smith let his true feelings out about what Durant said about him.
Stephen A. Smith goes off on Kevin Durant
Smith made sure to praise Durant but surely did not forget to drop the mic on the future Basketball Hall of Famer.
“I got bad news for Kevin Durant,” Smith said. “If you’re expecting me to reciprocate with that kind of pettiness and childishness, it’s not going to happen. Kevin Durant is one of the greatest players to have ever played this game.
He’s a future Hall of Famer. He’s a two-time champion and two-time Finals MVP and I’ve been on the record saying he’s also a good dude. So if he wants to resort to that level, even though we’re both grown men, and if he had something to say, he knows my number and he refrains from doing so that’s what he has to live with.”
Stephen A. Smith responds to Kevin Durant calling him a "clown": "I will not disrespect him the same way he disrespects me. It's unfortunate that no matter how old he gets, his sensitivity seems to heighten with it and his maturity it doesn't. But that's something he has to deal… pic.twitter.com/nzujKIJUyU
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 4, 2024
Smith also took exception to Durant’s accusation about the sports media personality not being seen “ at a practice, or a film session, or a shoot-around.”
“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,” Smith fired. “Kevin Durant has seen me in the locker room when he was at Oklahoma City [Thunder]. He has seen me in the locker room when he was at Golden State [Warriors].
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.”
This isn’t the first time that Durant nor Smith had something to say about each other, and it can be expected that this won’t be the last.
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