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Stephen A. Smith is firing back at Jaylen Brown after the Boston Celtics star called the popular ESPN personality a “clickbait media face” during a Twitch livestream over the weekend.
Brown also called Smith a “clown,” but the veteran sports pundit took the time on Monday’s edition of “First Take” to respond to those comments in his own speech.
“I’m not going to disrespect Jaylen Brown,” Smith said. “…He’s pointing the finger in the wrong direction. Point it at yourself, bro.”
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Stephen A. Smith questioned whether NBA players felt safe in Memphis, and Grizzlies guard Ja Morant responded at a 2024 NBA event. (Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
Smith had criticized Brown for saying that last season with the Boston Celtics, which ended in the first round of the playoffs with a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, was his favorite with the franchise. Brown responded Sunday night by telling the ESPN personality to “step aside.”
“Did he just say I should keep quiet?” To keep silent for whom? Brown said Sunday evening. “Dude, damn Stephen A. Stephen A, Stephen B, Stephen C. My offer still stands. You want me to shut up and stop broadcasting, well, I want you to shut up and get off these networks because you’re not using your platform to do real journalism. You’re using your platform to use clickbait.”
CELTICS STAR JAYLEN BROWN RIPS INTO ESPN’S STEPHEN A SMITH AS QUARREL AGAINS: ‘MEDIA FACE CLICKBAIT’
“Tell this mother, uh, to retire because he’s the face of the clickbait media at this point and maybe with his retirement we can start a movement to get the rest of these mothers out of here – or also have some sort of…forget journalistic integrity, actual integrity in order to hold ourselves accountable to the bulls—- the takes that they post.”
Smith, however, doubled down on his previous comment in Monday’s monologue.
“The Boston Celtics, the most famous franchise in the annals of basketball, 18 [championships]. You helped deliver one just two years ago. Two years later, you all gave up a 3-1 lead for the first time in franchise history with you driving the bus. And 24 hours later, you didn’t go to the basket in the last two minutes, after you all made three-pointers six times and missed every one of them. [In] 24 hours after that session ended, you went on camera as a representative for the Boston Celtics and called it your favorite season. A season where Jayson Tatum was on the bench for 60 games, a season that ended with a 3-1 blowout, a season that ended with a first-round bounce. You went on to say it was your favorite season.”
“Since you represent the franchise, I was simply informing you that it was unwise for someone who is considered relatively wise to say that 24 hours after being sent home, after giving up a 3-1 playoff lead for the first time in franchise history. That’s what I said.”
Celtics star Jaylen Brown fired back at ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith after the “First Take” host told Brown to “shut up” following Boston’s playoff collapse. (Imagn Images)
Smith ended his rant with a warning for Brown.
“At the end of the day, Jaylen Brown, be careful what you wish for,” he said. “You really want me to start reporting at that level? You understand? The locker room, what the organization might think of you, what the city might think of you, what Jayson Tatum might or might not feel about you. Sneaker deals, endorsement deals, the list goes on and on.
“The season is over, bro. You’re on Twitch trying to do what I’m doing, and I need to step away. That doesn’t make any sense. I’m not being disrespectful. I’m just pointing out that it’s not wise, after 24 hours of the season ending in the first round, for you to say this is your favorite season. It’s not the smartest thing in the world to do.”
Smith also prefaced his statement by explaining how he has been by Brown’s side throughout the season, as well as in the past. He spoke about his philanthropy within his community and how much he respected Brown.
Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown dribbles the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on April 30, 2026. (Bill Streicher/Imagn Images)
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As Smith mentioned, the Celtics were surprisingly bounced out of the NBA playoffs after losing three straight games to end their first-round series with the Sixers. During the regular season, while Tatum was recovering from injury, Brown was the focal point for the Celtics, averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game.
Boston ended up earning the second seed in the Eastern Conference after going 56-26, but they couldn’t finish against Philadelphia, making unfortunate history for the franchise.
