’80 percent’ of NBA players believe Stephen A Smith is a clown, reveals veteran

Former NBA star Baron Davis agrees with Kevin Durant's recent take regarding Stephen A Smith on The Big Podcast.

’80 percent’ of NBA players believe Stephen A Smith is a clown, reveals veteran

Kevin Durant and Stephen A Smith

Ever since the 2024-25 NBA season began on October 23, 2024, a lot has unfolded in and around the league. One of the most notable situations that caught the attention of the NBA community featured Kevin Durant calling out Stephen A Smith. Durant lashed out at Smith, and he went as far as calling the ESPN host a ‘clown.’

This led to other NBA experts and ex-players weighing their views on this particular situation. While many disagreed with Durant’s words, some players understood his take on Smith. In the recent segment of ‘The Big Podcast’ with Shaquille O’Neal, former NBA guard Baron Davis gave his take on the beef between Durant and Smith.

I say somewhere in the 80s (players agreeing with Kevin Durant’s comments) 80 percent. But to your point Shaq its like, Stephen A is a motivator.

Baron Davis said on the Big Podcast
YouTube video

A few weeks prior, Smith had criticized Durant on First Take for his poor leadership. The NBA often accuses Durant of not having proper leadership skills. On X, the Phoenix Suns star retaliated. Then, with his latest remarks to The Athletic, Durant renewed the feud with Smith.

FS Video

Durant usually remains unfazed by all the noise surrounding him. But never backs off from speaking his mind whenever required. In this case, Durant did the same. The beef between Durant and Smith goes back to the early 2010s. Like always, the ESPN host responded to the two-time champion.

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Stephen A Smith’s ‘spirited’ response to Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant and Stephen A Smith have been going at each other with a war of words lately. The recent feud started with Smith criticizing Durant’s career choices. This led to Durant responding to him via an interview with The Athletic. The two-time champion publicly labeled him as a ‘clown.’ Now, Smith has responded to Durant’s recent remarks.

I will not disrespect him the same way he disrespects me. It’s unfortunate that no matter how old he gets, his sensitivity seems to heighten with it and his maturity it doesn’t… I sincerely wish that he doesn’t get swept again in the playoffs like he has two of the last three years.

, Stephen A Smith said in a recent segment of the First Take Show
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Smith made sure he ended his words with a little dig toward Durant and his current NBA side, the Phoenix Suns. Many have criticized Durant’s inability to lead the Suns to the NBA Finals after having a star-studded roster. It remains to be seen whether Durant adds more fuel to this ongoing beef or chooses to ignore it.