Stephen A. Smith slammed by NBA Finals viewers for shouting at his ESPN co-stars
Viewers before Game 7 of the NBA Finals were treated to the sight and sound of a screaming Stephen A. Smith, possibly too into the moment for his own good.
Over an hour before tipoff of the final and decisive game of the championship series, Smith let his passion for the game out on-air - but possibly at a volume not appropriate for the occasion at the time.
Video posted to social media by Awful Announcing showed Smith getting into a shouting match on ESPN with his co-star and former Oklahoma City Thunder player Kendrick Perkins.
While starting off at a lower volume, Smith eventually raised his voice while calling Perkins 'really annoying' for believing that some players in this game may not be able to perform the same as they would in other environments.
'This is a man that is a champion, you're talking about a Game 7... he acts like everybody that's been producing all year long, come Game 7, "it's no different, it's no different." It's very, very, very different,' Smith said at the top of his lungs.
Another member of the desk, former Golden State Warriors executive Bob Myers, fired back at Smith, saying, 'Just because you yell something doesn't mean it's true.'
The Game 7 pregame show switches over from ESPN to ABC, and Stephen A. Smith opens it with much more yelling. 🏀📺🎙️ #NBA #NBAFinals https://t.co/SR8LNrlV7u pic.twitter.com/mHHrEaDXh3
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 22, 2025
When the pre-game show transitioned from ESPN to ABC, Smith continued his ranting and raving at max volume. Only this time, he started at a 10 and never dropped from there.
Disgruntled viewers let their anger and exhaustion be known on social media.
'It's like watching the THX intro at full volume but for an hour straight,' said one user on X.
Another posted, 'The fact that ESPN cannot see that he is destroying their credibility, is mind boggling.'
'Can't believe ESPN gave this man the bag for a bunch of yellin,' another commented.
One post read, 'Espn suits must have told them to really sell how big of a deal this game is and stephen a did that by just yelling that its a big deal.'
After the game got underway, disaster struck immediately for the Indiana Pacers when injured guard Tyrese Haliburton appeared to tear his Achilles tendon.
He left the contest and will not return, a big blow to Indiana's hopes of winning this championship game.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
32 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Fans slam ESPN commentator Doris Burke after she 'ruined' Game 7 of the NBA Finals
ESPN commentator Doris Burke has been heavily criticized on social media for her analysis during Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Burke was behind the mic as the Oklahoma City Thunder managed to claim the franchise's second-ever championship with a 103-91 victory over the Indiana Pacers. She made up a three-person team in the booth alongside Mike Breen and Richard Jefferson. But fans quickly took to social media to vent their frustrations at her performance throughout the contest. One posted: 'When you're sad the NBA season is over but then realize you don't have to hear Richard Jefferson and Doris Burke ever again.' Another commented: 'Can we all just agree Doris Burke should never call another finals? I am so tired of it.' ESPN's Doris Burke has been slammed on social media for her analysis of the NBA Finals A third posted: 'Doris Burke is hands down the worst announcer in NBA history. Her voice ruins the Finals. 'It's Game 7, and we're stuck listening to a WNBA highlight reel in disguise. This isn't equality, it's punishment. Do better @ESPN'. 'Doris Burke and Richard Jefferson are the 2 worst commentators in sports history,' added another. The criticism kept coming, with another viewer added: 'Why does Doris Burke get airtime? Whatever opinion or take she has, she is always wrong. Not to mention her abhorrent voice and baseless confidence! It comes after reports emerged earlier this month that ESPN's top NBA broadcast booth could be reshuffled after just one season. According to The Athletic's Andrew Marchand, Burke is not guaranteed to be back with ESPN's top trio of announcers, while Jefferson has drawn some interest from Amazon Prime as the streaming giant gains domestic NBA media rights next season. Another change atop the ESPN depth chart would result in the third different grouping in as many seasons. Until 2024, the cable giant had featured the popular trio of play-by-play announcer Mike Breen, ex-coach Jeff Van Gundy and former player and coach Mark Jackson. But while Marchand reports that ESPN didn't order Van Gundy and Jackson's firings, he does say it was 'well known' the league was upset about the former's frequent criticism. ESPN replaced the two with Doc Rivers and JJ Redick, who went on to take coaching positions with the Milwaukee Bucks and Los Angeles Lakers, respectively. Enter Jefferson, a popular former player, and Burke, who had been on ESPN's No. 2 pairing with long-time play-by-play announcer Mark Jones.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
US men overcome goalkeeping gaffe to top Haiti 2-1 and win Gold Cup group
Patrick Agyemang scored a tiebreaking goal in the 75th minute, and the United States overcame Matt Freese's goalkeeping gaffe to beat Haiti 2-1 on Sunday night and win their Concacaf Gold Cup group with a 3-0 record. Malik Tillman put the US ahead in the 10th minute with his third goal of the tournament but Freese, who has displaced Matt Turner, highlighted the Americans' goalkeeping issues a year ahead of the World Cup with a botched clearing attempt that led to Louicius Don Deedson's 19th-minute goal. After Tillman came close three times in the second half, Agyemang scored after taking a long pass from John Tolkin. Agyemang touched the ball past goalkeeper Johny Placide and slotted into an open net for his fifth international goal and second of the tournament. The US, who opened with victories over Trinidad and Tobago and invited guest Saudi Arabia, won their group for the 17th time in 18 Gold Cups. The Americans have 43 wins, one loss and five draws in group play, going 3-0 for the seventh time. Using largely a B team in the tournament, the Americans already had clinched a spot in the quarter-finals against Mexico or Costa Rica next weekend. Haiti finished third on goal difference ahead of Trinidad and Tobago, which was eliminated when it wasted a lead in a 1-1 draw as the Saudis. The Gold Cup is the last competitive test for the 16th-ranked Americans ahead of the World Cup. As co-hosts, the US, Mexico and Canada get automatic berths. In front of a sparse crowd at the 80,000-seat home of the Dallas Cowboys, one of next year's World Cup venues, Tillman scored his third goal of the tournament when he headed the ball inside the far post from Brenden Aaronson's cross in the 10th minute. Sign up to Soccer with Jonathan Wilson Jonathan Wilson brings expert analysis on the biggest stories from European soccer after newsletter promotion Freese blundered when took a back pass from Tim Ream and tried to play the ball to Tolkin with left foot. The ball went straight to Don Deedson, who took a touch and scored inside the far post. American midfielder Tyler Adams started after being slowed by turf toe, among four changes by coach Mauricio Pochettino, and got a yellow card for a late sliding tackle on Duckens Nazon about 25 seconds in.
Reuters
an hour ago
- Reuters
Thunder best Pacers in Game 7 to bring 1st NBA crown to Oklahoma City
June 23 - OKLAHOMA CITY -- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points, Jalen Williams added 20, and the Oklahoma City Thunder became NBA champions by wearing down the Indiana Pacers with a withering defense to pull off a 103-91 win on Sunday night in Game 7. The NBA championship is the franchise's first since moving to Oklahoma City for the 2008-09 season and first since winning the 1979 title as the Seattle SuperSonics. The Thunder forced 23 Pacers turnovers while committing just eight and outscored Indiana 32-10 off turnovers. The Pacers, who remain without an NBA title, lost star point guard Tyrese Haliburton to a right leg injury in the first quarter, when he scored nine points. After turning the ball over eight times in a Game 6 blowout loss on the road in the best-of-seven NBA Finals, point guard Gilgeous-Alexander was much better on Sunday night. The NBA Most Valuable Player this season, Gilgeous-Alexander finished just 8 of 27 from the floor and 2 of 12 from beyond the arc but had 12 assists and just one turnover. Indiana trailed by as many as 22 points in the fourth quarter but cut the deficit to 12 with less than five minutes left and 10 with just more than two minutes remaining. But the Pacers couldn't get any closer. Chet Holmgren added 18 points for Oklahoma City. The Thunder took over in the third quarter, using the same suffocating defense that helped them earn the NBA's best record at 68-14 and pushed them through their playoff run as the favorite to win the crown. Oklahoma City scored 18 points off eight Indiana turnovers as it outscored the Pacers 34-20 in the third. The Thunder, whose offense looked out of sort through much of the first half after struggling in a Game 6 loss, also thrived at the other end of the floor. Oklahoma City didn't commit a turnover in the third, and Williams scored nine points in the quarter, including hitting a critical 3-pointer during the stretch that put the Thunder ahead for good. Gilgeous-Alexander spun in the lane, drawing an "oooh" from the home crowd. But instead of flipping up a shot, as he has done countless times during his MVP season, Gilgeous-Alexander instead flipped to Williams in the corner. Oklahoma City's other All-Star quickly fired up a 3-pointer, which bounced high off the rim before draining through, sending the crowd into a frenzy as the Thunder's lead stretched to nine after back-to-back-to-back Thunder 3-pointers broke a tie. It could've been worse for the Pacers if not for point guard T.J. McConnell, who scored 12 points in the third, hitting six of Indiana's eight field goals in the frame. Indiana's Haliburton started off hot, hitting three 3-pointers in a little more than five minutes to start the game. But two minutes later, as the Pacers' point guard was starting to drive outside of the top of the arc, he came crashing to the court and screamed. The ball popped out to Alex Caruso, who quickly fired to Gilgeous-Alexander, who found Williams streaking up court for a dunk as Haliburton remained crumpled on the ground with a non-contact injury. After the play, Haliburton was helped off the court. The Indiana star, who suffered a right calf strain in Game 5 but had been playing through it, couldn't put weight on his right leg as he was helped to the locker room. Haliburton did not return with what the Pacers classified as a "right lower leg injury." On the ABC broadcast, it was reported Haliburton had suffered a torn Achilles. Even without Haliburton, though, the Pacers kept the game tight, leading by one at halftime and tying the game early in the third before the Thunder began their onslaught. Bennedict Mathurin led the Pacers with 24 points off the bench. Pascal Siakam and McConnell added 16 each. The Thunder became the first team to score 100 or more points in an NBA Finals Game 7 since 1988, when the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Detroit Pistons 108-105. --Field Level Media
