Stephen A. Smith did not hold back with his choice of words for the ongoing clash of opinions between Charles Barkley and Kendrick Perkins.
The Phoenix Suns legend called out Perkins on his “Lakers saving the NBA” narrative, calling him a fool on national TV. Not backing down on his stance, the former journeyman center clapped back at Barkley.
Smith later took to X to weigh in on their differences in opinion, cautioning Barkley that there would be folks waiting to respond to his comments after their “Inside the NBA” moves to ESPN.
“Yo Chuck, stop the b.s. with the ‘y’all.’ Attach a name to it,” Stephen A. Smith wrote. “I know I’ve been talking about [the Cavaliers] being the No.1 threat to the Celtics. Once you come over here, there’s gonna be some folks waiting to call YOU a fool.”
Smith added, “P.S. You know I love ya, though. See y’all soon. Yo [Kenny Smith]….workbook those free throws. Love y’all.”
Famu Homecoming 102921 Ts 368
The feud began when Barkley called out Perkins and ESPN for putting the spotlight on the LA Lakers and the Golden State Warriors, calling them “fools” and saying “I want all the smoke.”
“Y’all are idiots because y’all talk about the Lakers and the Warriors all the time,” Barkley said.
“I want all the smoke… the Lakers are doing great… Y’all are idiots because y’all talk about the Lakers and the Warriors all the time… Oklahoma City [Thunder] and the Cavs been ballin for six months.”
Charles Barkley took SHOTS at ESPN 😳pic.twitter.com/T24BBE1m9t
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) March 7, 2025
Barkley believes that the OKC Thunder and the Cleveland Cavaliers also deserve to be highlighted as the top seeds in their respective conferences and the only teams with 50-plus wins this season.
“Oklahoma City [Thunder] and the Cavs [have] been ballin’ for six months,” the former Suns power forward added.
Barkley and Perkins’ beef has been doing the rounds on social media, and neither one is backing down from it.
Stephen A. Smith to talk more politics as part of his new deal with ESPN
Stephen A. Smith is reportedly staying onboard with ESPN with a massive pay day. According to The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand, Smith agreed with the network on a new $100 million contract for the next five years.
Smith, who previously made $12 million per year, would not only see a raise in his pay, but also more opportunities to discuss politics on other networks and platforms and earn more money outside of ESPN.
The 57-year-old has been vocal about his opinions on President Donald Trump, former vice president Kamala Harris, and other political issues that his name is now being added to the presidential race in 2028—something that he hasn’t seemed to take too seriously.
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