Stephen A's Take: Durant calls Stephen A a Clown. Now it's Stephen A's turn to respond.

Summary

The Stephen A. Smith Show – Episode Summary Release Date: November 6, 2024

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Introduction: Feud Between Stephen A. Smith and Kevin Durant In this riveting episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, host Stephen A. Smith addresses the escalating feud with NBA superstar Kevin Durant. The conflict ignited when Durant publicly denounced Smith as a "clown," prompting a direct and unfiltered response from the renowned sports commentator.

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Background: Stephen A.'s Criticism of Durant's Leadership

Starting at [01:02], Stephen A. Smith revisits his recent critiques of Kevin Durant’s leadership qualities. In an article published by The Athletic, Smith highlighted concerns about Durant’s ability to inspire and lead his teammates effectively. He stated:

"When you talk about Kevin Durant, this is what we're not going to do. ... His leadership has been brought into question." [01:13]

Smith emphasized that while Durant is an exceptional talent, there are areas in his leadership that warrant scrutiny.

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Durant's Response: Calling Stephen A. a Clown

At [01:37], Durant retaliates by labeling Stephen A. Smith a "clown," escalating the tension between the two. Durant's comments were a direct response to Smith's criticisms, as he expressed frustration over being portrayed negatively in the media.

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Stephen A.'s Defense: Acknowledging Durant's Greatness While Standing by Criticisms

Despite Durant's harsh words, Stephen A. stands firm in his commentary. At [03:12], Smith responds:

"I would argue passionately that very little compares to your obvious greatness as a talent, including those intangibles. Respectfully, KD, Trey 5, et cetera." [03:12]

He acknowledges Durant's achievements, including his championships and MVP awards, while maintaining that his criticisms regarding Durant’s leadership are valid and necessary.

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Discussion on Durant's Career Moves: Critiquing Business Decisions

A significant portion of the discussion revolves around Durant’s career decisions, particularly his move to the Golden State Warriors. At [10:40], Durant criticizes Smith’s analysis of his decision-making:

"When you talk about Kevin Durant, ... I would disagree." [10:40]

Smith counters by dissecting Durant's choices, arguing that joining a team with an already stacked roster like the Warriors was a poor strategic move, undermining competitive balance in the NBA. He states:

"I had to come on the boardroom and explain. In no way was it an attack on you as a player, because we all know you. Great." [10:44]

Smith further elaborates on how Durant's move impacted his legacy and the broader NBA landscape.

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Personal Attacks: Delving into Interactions with Other Players and Media

The exchange intensifies as both parties delve into personal interactions with other athletes and media personnel. Durant accuses Smith of lacking firsthand experience with his career, stating at [05:37]:

"My resume is my resume. It's there for everybody to see." [05:37]

Smith retorts by highlighting his extensive media background and longstanding presence in the sports industry, implying that Durant's assertions lack merit.

The conversation also touches upon past interactions with other NBA players, such as Charles Barkley and Russell Westbrook, showcasing the depth of the animosity between Durant and Smith.

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Conclusion: Standing by Criticisms Without Personal Offense

As the episode progresses towards its conclusion, Stephen A. Smith reaffirms his stance, emphasizing that his criticisms are rooted in professional analysis rather than personal vendettas. At [22:54], Smith clarifies:

"I don't get personal like that." [22:54]

Durant responds by asserting his respect for Smith's work but maintains his stance against the criticisms. The dialogue culminates without a definitive resolution, leaving listeners anticipating future confrontations between the two.

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Notable Quotes:

• Stephen A. Smith at [01:13]:

  "When you talk about Kevin Durant, this is what we're not going to do. ... His leadership has been brought into question."

• Kevin Durant at [01:37]:

  "He's a clown."

• Stephen A. Smith at [03:12]:

  "I would argue passionately that very little compares to your obvious greatness as a talent, including those intangibles. Respectfully, KD, Trey 5, et cetera."

• Stephen A. Smith at [10:44]:

  "I had to come on the boardroom and explain. In no way was it an attack on you as a player, because we all know you. Great."

• Stephen A. Smith at [22:54]:

  "I don't get personal like that."

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Final Thoughts

This episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show provides an unfiltered glimpse into the contentious relationship between a top sports commentator and an NBA superstar. Through sharp exchanges and candid admissions, both Smith and Durant lay bare their perspectives on leadership, career decisions, and media portrayal within the high-stakes world of professional basketball.

For those intrigued by the ongoing saga between Stephen A. Smith and Kevin Durant, this episode offers critical insights and highlights the complex dynamics that unfold when media personalities and athletes clash.

Transcript

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[Greg Rosenthal]

It's Greg Rosenthal and I'm teaming up with the King of Spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs mock drafts to my top 101, free agents will have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'd be remiss in starting in any different direction than with Kevin Durant, the superstar basketball player who took the liberty of calling me out in very, very disrespectful terms, to be quite honest with you. But it is what it is. It involves Kevin Durant, as I said, star of the Phoenix Suns. Durant is reportedly tired of my criticism of his leadership in an article written Athletic. In the article he says, quote, I've.

[Kevin Durant]

Been in the league for 18 years.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I've never seen Stephen A at a practice or a film session or shoot round. I've never seen him anywhere but on TV talking shit about players.

[Kevin Durant]

He's a clown.

[Stephen A. Smith]

To me. He's always been a clown. You can write that too. End quote. Wow, how testy we get. So that's Kevin Durant speaking about me. And if you're wondering where this all comes from, before I even get into it, let me first show you what I said less than two weeks ago during my daytime job first take on ESPN that apparently had Kevin Durant so riled up. Look at what I said. Ladies and gentlemen, when you talk about Kevin Durant, this is what we're not going to do. We're not going to look at Kevin Durant and just measure him in terms of just his talent. It's what ability you have to peel out of others. He's been relatively leaderless. He's been very. He's been very lacking in inspiration in terms of peeling out from those around him, whatever you can give him, he'll show up. If you said to me, if you it's a game seven, it's a game one, it's a game five, I don't give a damn what it is. Kevin Durant's going to show up and he's going to ball out. But does he get the others around him to do it? Not only does he not do it, he doesn't feel the level of responsibility I think he should feel in getting it out of. Needless to say, Kevin Durant wasn't going to take that lying down because obviously if he claps back at fans and everybody else and their grandmama, he certainly was going to clap back at me. And he most certainly did. Just a few days later when he threw out this tweet quote on X, he says, first take Stephen A. Smith.

[Kevin Durant]

I would disagree.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Stephen, I would argue passionately that my intangibles have always been on par with my talent. I saw that and I immediately responded by saying, and I would argue passionately that very little compares to your obvious greatness as a talent, including those intangibles. Respectfully, KD, Trey 5, et cetera. And then next thing you know, I'm in the house last night watching football and I see the article with the quote that I had just read to you to start off this segment. A lot of people out there are going to expect me to go in on Kevin Durant to disrespect him. I just don't feel that way about him. I think Kevin Durant is one of the greatest players to ever play basketball. I think he's one of the greatest offensive talents this world has ever seen. He's a two time champion. He's a two time NBA Finals mvp. He's a former league mvp. He's a multiple time scoring champion. He is destined for the hall of Fame. Having said that, I stand by every damn syllable I uttered about him. I said what I meant and I meant what I said. His leadership has been brought into question. Now you've seen articles because some of these weak reporters try to go out there and use me as the news.

[Kevin Durant]

And let me tell you why I.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Take offense to that. I take offense to that because it's not as if they're acknowledging me as a personality who was once their brethren and to some degree still is. They act like they forgot that I was in the press boxes, I was courtside, I was in the media media row. I was in pregame locker rooms, post game, locker room shoot arounds and all of that stuff, just like they are now.

[Kevin Durant]

They act like I didn't do that.

[Stephen A. Smith]

That I just ran my mouth and I ultimately got here.

[Kevin Durant]

New York Daily News, Philadelphia Inquirer, cnnsi, Fox Sports, espn.

[Stephen A. Smith]

My resume is my resume. It's there for everybody to see.

[Kevin Durant]

And you might not have known it until you read my book Straight Shooter.

[Stephen A. Smith]

But for a kid that grew up in the streets of Hollis, Queens, New York, that had dyslexia, that got left back because I was in a fourth.

[Kevin Durant]

Grade reading, on a first grade reading.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Level, I think it's pretty. It's pretty impressive what I've been able to accomplish in my life, if I should say so myself.

[Kevin Durant]

Not only am I renowned as a.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Journalist and an insider and a reporter, as I, which I spent the first 20 years of my career doing, but.

[Kevin Durant]

I transitioned to radio and television, where I made noise in this industry as well. And the reason I bring that up is, is not just because a reporter shouldn't be going up and say, Stephen A. Said it, but also a player with Kevin Durant's credentials, no matter how insensitive your ass may be, has no business acting like I didn't do some of the things these reporters do. Kevin Durant lied to you. He's never seen me in a locker room ever. You've never seen me at a practice, even though practice is closed to the media until you finish and they come over. Never. You never saw me at games when for the better part of the last 25 years, I've been at an average of 120 games a year. You ain't seen me when you were playing for the Golden State Warriors. You didn't see me sitting courtside. I'm sorry. When you were in Brooklyn and the Golden State warriors came, you didn't see me sitting courtside with your former owner, Joe Laker. You didn't see me at a couple of Phoenix games. You didn't see me there. You didn't see me in attendance when you went up against the Clippers. You didn't see me at the finals. You didn't see me at the Western Conference finals when you were playing against Houston and James Harden. What, we going to lie now? We going to lie because those are lies. Those are lies. But again, I understand because you and your feelings. Call Ralph Tresvant, by the way, told.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Him you was looking for him. Need a man with sensitivity, right? Remember that song? But I digress. I'm just joking around about that. Just a man with sensitivity is just to peg off of that. That's All I was trying to say, Nothing more, just joking around. But let me get serious again so.

[Kevin Durant]

We get that out the way. Now let's get to the other parts that you said, I'm a clown. Is that why you called me? Is that why your team called me? To be a part of your documentary.

[Stephen A. Smith]

New York city point guards?

[Kevin Durant]

That 35 ventures, if I remember correctly, executive produced. That's. That's why y'all called me, because I was a clown. Your docu series, your company, you run the show. You executive produced it. How come y'all called me a kid from Coney Island? The Story about Stephon Marbury, didn't you? In concert with Stephon Mar. Did you executive produce that too, along with Marbury and others. How come you called me for that one? Why? When you had the Boardroom and you were sitting down to interview people one on one, didn't you call me to do that interview, by the way? Didn't you show up on First Take sitting right across from me a clown? Remember that, by the way? Go back and do your homework. What was one of your largest rated episodes for the Boardroom? When my man Jay Williams was the host? On the occasion that you would sit across from people that you were talking about or talking to, that would be me. But we just gonna ignore that, right? Okay, fine. The facts are the facts. It's right there for everybody to see. New York City point guards, a kid from Coney Island. I'd encourage all of y'all to watch it.

[Stephen A. Smith]

35 inches, Stephon Marvy, all of them. He did a great, great job with that stuff.

[Kevin Durant]

Go watch. I'm featured in it quite heavily, I might add. The clown that is me. Now, let's get back to the biggest issue that.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I wanted to bring this up, and.

[Kevin Durant]

I alluded to this this morning on First Take. But I'll do it again right here over my show, my podcast, et cetera. Right here over the digital airwaves of YouTube, and of course, iHeartRadio Kevin Durant. Can anybody talk about you?

[Stephen A. Smith]

I. I just need to know. I just need clarity.

[Kevin Durant]

You leave Oklahoma City, y'all are up 3:1. You give up a 3:1 lead, you end up losing in the Western Conference finals, letting Golden State come back from a 3:1 deficit. When Clay dropped 40:1 on you in Game 6, when you lost in Game 7, when your middle name could have easily been passive, when it counted most and you lose to Golden State, and before people had a chance to pass gas and go on vacation for the summer, you went To Golden State. To the very team that just sent your ass home. Now, I called it the weakest move in the history of the sport by any superstar. Weakest move by superstar. Because you were joining forces to stack the deck. I had to come on the boardroom and explain. In no way was it an attack on you as a player, because we all know you. Great. What I explained was you're so phenomenal as a player that to be paired with the greatest shooting backcourt in the history of basketball and one of the elite defensive players in Draymond Green, with a sensational coach in Steve Kerr, the deck was so stacked, it made no sense to watch the upcoming NBA season because there was no competition. And how could a superstar of your caliber want that kind of situation? That was what I said. You go there. Anyway, Props deserved three straight trip to the NBA Finals, I believe. Three straight championships. If you don't get hurt and tell your Achilles y'all are beat Kawhi Leonard in Toronto, I think you would have swept them. But it didn't happen. Fair enough. But you won back to back titles. You beat LeBron. You a Finals MVP, you were balling out. You were the best player on the Golden State Warriors. All things that I easily acknowledge because I try to tell the truth, and that's just the truth. And then what do you do after departing from Oklahoma City to appear on your own show on the boardroom sitting across from me? You said you wanted to play a better brand of basketball, that you just wanted your game to elevate and evolve. And that was your rationale from departing for Russell Westbrook and leaving him hanging to go in and joining forces with the Splash brothers. Okay, fine. Well then what was the excuse for leaving? To go to Brooklyn with Kyrie Irving. A sensational player, no doubt, and a champion, but obviously had some issues back then. We fast forward even though I concede if Kyrie hadn't got hurt against Milwaukee, y'all have beat Milwaukee, y'all have won.

[Stephen A. Smith]

A championship that year, but it didn't happen.

[Kevin Durant]

But then you, or rather Steph and those boys go to Boston and they win the championship. And en route to winning the championship, I said, quote, because of all that had happened in Brooklyn and all the things that your star power couldn't reel in and control, that if Steph Curry and Golden State had won the title, you would be viewed more so than as the dude who left Steph to join kyrie rather than two time champion with two NBA finals and VPs. What has been happening ever since and why did I bring that up? Because when stuff was transpiring in Brooklyn, everybody thinks it's just about Kyrie and Covid and all of these other issues that he may have had. No, it was about Kenny Atkinson being there and ultimately departed. It was about you signing off on Steve Nash being the head coach when he had no experience on any level to be a head coach. It was about you making sure that Brooklyn embraced Kyrie. Because Brooklyn didn't want Kyrie, they wanted you. And you made it clear they were not getting you unless Kyrie arrived. You figure out how I know that? You figure that out. And that was after you told the Knicks you were coming. And then at the 11th hour, you got convinced to roll over to Brooklyn, which might be one of the worst business moves, Mr. 35 ventures that we have seen from a basketball superstar in a modern day era. Because when we think about business, with the number one name that comes to it, when we think about basketball and business is LeBron James, whether it's Cleveland to Miami, back to Cleveland to la, the business moves were adroit. The business moves were big time. It's undeniable. I think I had somebody tell me just the other day that LeBron James is making over a hundred million dollars a year in endorsements alone. That's why he's a billionaire. And you far from broke and you're highly successful. But think about what you would have been had you become a Knick, who you said were whack. Not taking into account Gotham City, New York, the Mecca, the brand that is the Knicks, and how Nets fans exist in Brooklyn. Knicks fans exist all over New York and in some. And why were these things relevant? Because people were talking about you, the player, the greatness that comes with you. They were saying, yo, does he really galvanize troops? Does he really, really, really do what it takes to lead? Nobody questioned work ethic, nobody questioned commitment, nobody questioned greatness when it came to you and your own individual self. But the other things they brought up were a question mark. Hell, they even brought up weed. Yes, weed. Now why would I bring that up? Nobody's diming you out. Nobody's talking about you smoking weed or anything like that.

[Stephen A. Smith]

You did.

[Kevin Durant]

Remember when you did the interview with David Letterman on Netflix and he brought it up and you said, I might be high, right? I'm high right now. And people looking at you and questioning and saying, yo, how committed are you to maximizing all that you can to win a championship? Remember when you did interviews and you talked about how the Championship really wasn't that important. Sure, you're gonna go out there and you're gonna play your hardest and what have you, but really, it's not that big of a priority to you. You just want to play the right way and you want to have fun and you want to evolve with the game. Remember, you said all of this, and I didn't even bring up in terms of you getting back to attacking me.

[Stephen A. Smith]

What players, what people you've had issues with.

[Kevin Durant]

Could y'all show the list, please? Just put it right up there for me, please.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'm at the top of the list. Sure. Remember when you went at Barkley because.

[Kevin Durant]

You got mad because he called you a follower? We don't need to get into Russell Westbrook.

[Stephen A. Smith]

We know what that history is about.

[Kevin Durant]

C.J. mcCollum.

[Stephen A. Smith]

You went on his podcast, and then.

[Kevin Durant]

You departed from his podcast, and you.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Had issues with something that he said.

[Kevin Durant]

He's not only a contemporary and a colleague, but he was the president of.

[Stephen A. Smith]

The Players association at a particular moment in time.

[Kevin Durant]

Don't get me started with Kendrick Perkins. He ain't got no reason to talk about you either.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Huh? He was your teammate.

[Kevin Durant]

He was in the locker. All right, I. Stephen A.

[Stephen A. Smith]

In the locker room.

[Kevin Durant]

He was wearing the same uniform. Went to the finals. When you went to the finals, your teammate. How about Dennis Schroder? He brings up European basketball players and how they're not about to sizzle. They're about the fundamentals. And you went at him and the international basketball community because they. Of the position he expressed, not to mention fans in Denver who were rooting for Jokic, who obviously is the best thing they had since sliced bread. Shannon Sharp. You went at him, too. Remember, Little B. When you decided to depart from Oklahoma City to go to. Go to. I mean, damn. Can anyone say something? I mean, if it's really just about showering you with praise and that's it, otherwise, we all in trouble, say so. Say so. But I just mentioned players, past and.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Present.

[Kevin Durant]

Rap artists, media pundits, commentators. I didn't even bring up the fans. You got burner accounts, bruh. I mean, I'm proud of you for putting your name to it, coming at me like that. At least I know it was you.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I am critical of Kevin Durant only from the standpoint that with that money and that greatness comes great responsibility, the kind of responsibility that should have us watching you at least in May.

[Kevin Durant]

You've been swept two of the last three years. You got swept by Boston, you got swept by Minnesota. You Would have got swept your first year in Denver. I'm sorry. In Phoenix, maybe not sweat, but you probably would have lost if Kawhi Leonard hadn't got hurt. He did drop 38. Game one, 31, game two. Even without Paul George, the Clippers were giving y'all some business. It was tied 1:1, and then all of a sudden, Kawhi Leonard disappeared. Couldn't play no more. There's a legitimate argument that could be made that y'all could have been going. Your team, led by you, could have been going in the first round last three years. I'm talking basketball, ladies and gentlemen. I'm not getting personal here. I'm talking basketball. And I'm not clapping back at Kevin Durant because he came at me. He has every right to come at me because I was talking about him. He has every right. I take no offense with him clapping back. I'm just saying, be factual. Mike Budenhozer just got in Phoenix. You weren't pissed off at Frank Vogel last year with issues involving separate team buses. That I ain't gonna get into. Come on, bro. You didn't have the greatest relationship with Steve Kerr, but you ended up playing with him for the Olympics or playing for him. I'm making that up. It's just basketball. We're talking basketball. That's the deal. That's all that happened. I got nothing negative say even if.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I. I don't get personal like that.

[Kevin Durant]

And I got mad love for kd, mad respect for him.

[Stephen A. Smith]

You don't want to talk.

[Kevin Durant]

You don't want to talk. I won't miss you. I'm not gonna lose any sleep over you, bro. I talk to people who want to talk to me. I show love to people who want.

[Stephen A. Smith]

To show love to me.

[Kevin Durant]

If you don't, I won't miss you. But I'm gonna do my job, and my job is to talk about basketball. And you want to talk about what I haven't done, then why don't you get my resume, Google me.

[Stephen A. Smith]

But you know, you don't need to, because you did that already. That's why you called me for your documentaries. I'ma leave it at that. I don't really have to say more than that.

[Greg Rosenthal]

What's up, everyone? It's Greg Rosenthal, and I'm teaming up with the King of Spring, Daniel Jeremiah. He requires me to say that we're going to be bringing you 40s and free agents, the only podcast you'll need this NFL draft season. From DJs, mock drafts to my top 101 free agents. We'll have it covered for you with all new episodes every Thursday, keeping you up to date as we head to the NFL Draft. Listen to 40s and free agents starting on March 6th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast.

[Julie Swerbinks]

What's up everyone? Julie Swerbinks here, along with former NHL player Nate Thompson.

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We're doing a new podcast together. Here we go.

[Julie Swerbinks]

The name Energy Line with Nate and jsb.

[Discover Card Advertiser]

Each week we'll get together and talk about hockey life. All topics are fair game, right?

[Julie Swerbinks]

Exactly. And you'll never know who will drop by to join us.

[Discover Card Advertiser]

Julie is pretty well connected. She has text threads going that you wouldn't believe.

[Julie Swerbinks]

Listen to Energy Line with Nate and jsb on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.