Stephen A. Smith criticized for playing Solitaire during NBA Finals as Kevin Durant joins in the jokes

Stephen A. Smith in Hot Water for Solitaire During NBA Finals

Stephen A. Smith’s actions during Game 4 of the NBA Finals have sparked criticism. The well-known ESPN personality was spotted playing Solitaire while the Oklahoma City Thunder faced the Indiana Pacers, ultimately winning 111-104.

Kevin Durant, a former Thunder star, shared a snapshot of Smith engaged in the card game on his Instagram story. He captioned it, “Cmon Steve.”

In response to backlash, Smith said he was only playing the game during breaks, claiming, “Yeah! That’s me. Who would have thought… I can multitask, especially in a timeout!” He added that he hoped everyone was enjoying the Finals, indicating he might take a glance during the game.

However, some people are skeptical of his explanation. Community notes on Smith’s post accused him of fabricating a narrative, referring to a video that captured him playing while the game was ongoing rather than during a timeout.

The video, shared by a user on social media, shows the Thunder asking for a basket, which then cuts to Smith. The clip concluded with evidence that he was actively playing the game.

Smith later tried to divert attention by sharing an image shortly after midnight, showing the game score when the Pacers were leading 87-80 with just over 11 minutes left to play. At that point, the Thunder had made a significant comeback.

The incident has left some Pacer fans, including Durant, unhappy, particularly following comments Smith made that seemed to downplay Indiana’s star player, Tyrese Haliburton. After Haliburton’s performance led to an upset in Game 3, he seemed to take aim at Smith without naming him. In reaction, Smith stated on his show, “I won’t leave… I’ve been here for a while.” He emphasized that there are players who have achieved more and have reached out to him.

The tension between Durant and Smith stretches back several years. Smith’s criticisms have not gone unnoticed, with Durant previously commenting on his distractibility, suggesting Smith is more interested in other pursuits than the game itself.