ESPN‘s Stephen A. Smith and Hall-of-Famer Isiah Thomas are in a war of words over what Smith said about Boston’s Jaylen Brown.
Smith kicked things off when the First Take crew debated the topic, “Is Jaylen Brown the most underrated NBA star?”
The ESPN personality shared information he received from an NBA source about Brown.
“I wanted to read to y’all what an NBA source just sent me,” Smith said. “He said, ‘Jaylen Brown, it’s not so much that he’s underrated, it’s that he’s just not liked because of his I-am-better-than-you attitude. He knows it. It’s the same reason he is not as marketable as he should be.’ That’s what an NBA source just sent me.”
Thomas saw Smith’s comments and hit back on X.
“I have been a friend, mentor and advisor to [Brown] since he was a student at UC Berkeley he is 100 percent marketable and before you slander his name @stephenasmith tell your source to put their name on it or don’t speak on it,” Thomas posted. “Let it be known.”
Not one to shy away from conflict, Smith responded.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about @IsiahThomas,” Smith responded on X. “I have been a fan of Jaylen Brown for years. Still am. What’s unfortunate is that YOU — who’s known for me decades — would choose to go on X to expressed whatever dissent you feel instead of calling me directly.
“But I get it. It’s a pattern several folks have used vs me recently, suddenly forgetting communication we’ve always had. So be it. I root for JB always—a great dude and player. But the @celtics have to close the deal.”
Then, Thomas tried to cool things off.
“All love between you and I @stephenasmith let’s talk when time permits,” Thomas wrote on X. “Tell your source to stand on their words and not use you to throw their stones.”
Brown himself then weighed in on X.
State your source https://t.co/7ay3dXr6YN
— Jaylen Brown (@FCHWPO) May 26, 2024
Stephen A. swiftly responded to Brown’s enquiry and explained how the whole point he was trying to make has been missed.
“First off, that’s not happening,” Smith said on X. “It’s journalism. Not revealing sources. Secondly, if you continue to watch the segment, I completely disagreed with them — as did Kendrick Perkins. The point we were actually discussing is how under appreciated you are and why that may be, which is why I read the quote. I even brought up how socially conscious you are, and how that may not be liked, knowing you’re a good brother. Also, that you’re a $300M man and you deserve it. But that doesn’t mean naysayers don’t get heard. That comes with the territory.”
READ MORE: Jaylen Brown Had a Very Strong Reaction to His All-NBA Snub