Stephen A. Smith fires back at Draymond Green for the NBA star's comments on Shaq's podcast
ESPN NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith has fired back at Warriors star Draymond Green for his comments on Shaquille O'Neal's over the 'First Take' co-host's remarks about the basketball player's infamous ban last fall following an incident with Suns center Jusuf Nurkic.
Cutting an emotional figure on the 'Worldwide Leader', Thursday, Smith wasted no time laying into Green, barely 24 hours after the four-time NBA champion told O'Neal on 'The Big Podcast with Shaq', that he was 'p*ssed off' and lost 'a lot of respect' for the veteran sports journalist for what he said about his on-court brawl with Nurkic in December, which resulted in an indefinite suspension for the 34-year-old forward. Green eventually returned after sitting out for 12 of Golden State's regular-season games.
For the record, Smith was one of few media personalities to defend Green during his time away from the league, describing the four-time All-Star as a 'good dude' while others claimed that he needed help to control his erratic behavior in games. Since turning pro in 2012, Green's had 21 ejections in his career, trailing Rashee Wallace, who holds the NBA record, by eight.
'I saw what Draymond Green said about me,' Smith first said to start his tirade, later adding on 'First Take': 'Well, I've now lost respect for him.
'Listen, Draymond and I... I'll never hate him. I'll never have anything but love for him. But I don't respect what he did. You know my number. You've spoken to me before. Why am I hearing about it on Shaq's podcast?
Stephen A. Smith launched into a tirade against Draymond Green on ESPN's 'First Take', Thurs.
Green claimed Smith 'p*ssed him off' on Shaquille O'Neal's podcast on Wed. regarding the NBA analyst's views of his indefinite suspension in Dec. after his on-court brawl with Jusuf Nurkic
.@stephenasmith responds to Draymond Green's recent comments about him. pic.twitter.com/cCNaIRfaVi
— First Take (@FirstTake) May 23, 2024
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'It would have been nice of Shaq to follow up and say: 'Yo, this is Stephen A. you're talking about. This brother always defends you.'' It would've been nice of Shaq to do that but he does what he does. And you know what, he's not a journalist like I am, so I get that.
'[...] The most important point to point out is that we talk about is, you know, we talk about being men. I'm not hard to find...
'Draymond could have called me up. Draymond could have had a conversation with me.
'I don't need to find that out on Shaq's podcast, when the world knows he is wrong...
Draymond Green on why Stephen A. Smith pissed him off 🗣️
— The Big Podcast (@bigpodwithshaq) May 22, 2024
Watch our full episode with Draymond here: https://t.co/kDtzpPfLze pic.twitter.com/bzj8OFAdQW
'I did not do that. You're going to take a sound bite... You know how much stuff I've said positive about Draymond Green? You know how many times I've come to the defense of Draymond Green? About his character in the league office, in media, in the newsroom, on podcasts, on various interviews I've done?!
'I have never, ever failed to support him... And all I'm saying is if you're going to have a problem with me, let a brother know.'
Defending Green, 'First Take' co-host Molly Qerim asked Smith if he had the courtesy of warning the former NBA Defensive Player of the Year about his takes that might have potentially hurt him in the past.
'I always text or call,' Smith replied.