Stephen A. Smith recently addressed comments made by Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant, who labeled him a 'clown.' This exchange unfolded during an episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, where Smith responded to Durant's remarks by referencing Durant's company, BoardRoom. Smith highlighted the irony of Durant’s accusation by mentioning that he was invited to participate in Durant's documentary produced by BoardRoom. 'I'm a clown? Is that why your team called me to be a part of your documentary? Because I'm a clown? It's your company,' Smith stated. 'You run the show, you executive produced it. How come y'all called me?'
In his retort, Smith also scrutinized Durant's career decisions, particularly his moves from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Golden State Warriors, and subsequently to the Brooklyn Nets. Smith characterized Durant's transition to Brooklyn as 'one of the worst business moves' for a star in the NBA. He raised questions about Durant's statements from the past, asking, 'After departing from Oklahoma City, sitting across from me you said you wanted to play a better brand of basketball. Well, then what was the excuse for leaving to go to Brooklyn?' Smith sought clarity on Durant's motivations, emphasizing the importance of leadership in a player of Durant's caliber.
The exchange between Smith and Durant has been ongoing, with previous tensions sparked by Smith's critiques of Durant's leadership on ESPN's First Take. Following these criticisms, Durant expressed his views via social media, stating, 'I don't question the greatness nor commitment of Kevin Durant.' He conveyed his belief that a player of Durant’s stature should demonstrate superior leadership qualities than he has displayed. Durant elaborated on his perspective of Smith, claiming, '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.' Although Durant has not issued further comments since Smith’s latest responses, it remains likely that he may continue to share his opinions in the future.
