Stephen A Smith breaks silence after his Solitaire play during NBA Finals Game 4 goes viral, sparking a two-word response from Kevin Durant
Stephen A Smith and Kevin Durant. Image via: Chris Elise | National Basketball Association | Getty Images | Justin Ford/ Getty Images
ESPN's Stephen A. Smith is no stranger to controversy, but even he couldn't have predicted his recent controversy. During Game 4 of the 2025 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers, cameras caught Smith seemingly playing Solitaire on his phone during the game.
The clip quickly went viral, prompting sharp reactions online, which included a blunt, two-word jab from NBA star Kevin Durant. As fans questioned his focus during such a high-stakes broadcast, Smith chose to address the moment head-on.
Stephen A. defends himself after Kevin Durant reacts to the viral photo
The photograph of Stephen A. Smith locked into his phone mid-game caused a stir, especially given the tension of Game 4, where the Thunder stormed back to even the series 2-2. With millions watching, the idea of a top analyst playing games mid-game didn't sit well with many.
Kevin Durant, known for never shying away from social media, added fuel to the fire by posting a screenshot of Smith playing with the caption: "Cmon Steve.
"
In typical fashion, Smith didn't stay silent for long. 'Yep! That's me. Who would've thought….I can multi-task. Especially during TIMEOUTS! Hope y'all are enjoying the NBA Finals. This is going 7 games now, peeps!' he wrote on X, brushing off the criticism and making light of the situation.
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Smith posted another post on X, showing off his apparent multitasking.
Smith has already been in the spotlight throughout the Finals due to his strong takes on both the Thunder and Pacers. He recently fired back at Tyrese Haliburton for comments aimed at media coverage, saying, 'Players far more accomplished and far more superior have made their efforts trying to call me out. How has that worked out?' The tension between media and athletes has been a running theme throughout this series.
On the court, the Thunder pulled off a gritty 111-104 win in Indiana. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the charge with 35 points, while Jalen Williams chipped in 27 points and went 11-for-11 at the line. Chet Holmgren added a monster double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds. Despite shooting poorly from beyond the arc, OKC made up for it at the free-throw line, converting 34-of-38 attempts.
Also Read:
Oklahoma City Thunder vs Indiana Pacers Game 4 (06/13): Box score, player stats, game summary and more
For the Pacers, Pascal Siakam led the team with 20 points, while Haliburton added 18 but struggled from deep. Indiana's 15 turnovers and 27 fouls proved too much to overcome. While fans stayed locked into the action on the court, Smith's quick game of Solitaire ended up being the unexpected headline of the night.
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