Stephen A. Smith and Isiah Thomas Clash Over Jaylen Brown Criticism

In a fiery social media exchange, ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith and NBA legend Isiah Thomas engaged in a public dispute regarding comments about Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown. The spat began when Thomas criticized Smith for what he perceived as unfair comments about Brown on Smith’s show, First Take. Smith, known for his candid and often controversial takes, did not hold back in his response to Thomas, escalating the tension between the two prominent figures in the basketball community.

Stephen A. Smith, who has long been a polarizing figure in sports media, quickly responded to Isiah Thomas’s public critique. Thomas, a two-time NBA champion, accused Smith of slandering Jaylen Brown by citing an anonymous source that questioned Brown’s likability and marketability. In a tweet directed at Thomas, Smith expressed his disappointment that Thomas chose to air his grievances publicly rather than reaching out privately.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, @IsiahThomas. I have been a fan of Jaylen Brown for years,” Smith tweeted. “Still am. What’s unfortunate is that you—who’ve known me for decades—would choose to go on X to express 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 the 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.”

Isiah Thomas’s criticism of Stephen A. Smith stemmed from a segment on First Take where Smith, citing an unnamed NBA source, suggested that Brown’s perceived lack of marketability was due to his “I-am-better-than-you” attitude. Thomas, who has mentored and advised Brown since his college days at UC Berkeley, took to Twitter to defend the Celtics star and challenge the credibility of Smith’s source.

“I have been a friend, mentor and advisor to @FCHWPO since he was a student at UC Berkeley He is 100 per cent marketable and before you slander his name, @stephenasmith, tell your source to put their name on it or don’t speak on it. Let it be known,” Thomas wrote.

The controversy began when Smith read a message from an anonymous NBA source on air, which suggested that Brown’s marketability was hindered by his attitude. “I wanted to read to y’all what an NBA source just sent me,” Smith said on First Take. “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.”

This comment did not sit well with Thomas, who felt that such statements were baseless and damaging to Brown’s reputation. Thomas’s public defence of Brown and critique of Smith’s approach added a personal dimension to the professional disagreement.

This isn’t the first time Smith and Thomas have clashed publicly. In March, Smith made headlines by stating that Michael Jordan had no obligation to apologize to Thomas for the portrayal of their rivalry in the documentary series ‘The Last Dance.’ Earlier this week, Thomas also criticized Smith’s ranking of the best playoff runs by small guards, further fueling the ongoing tension between them.

As the dispute unfolded on social media, it highlighted the influence and reach of public platforms like Twitter in shaping narratives and airing grievances. Smith, with his extensive audience on ESPN, is likely to address the comments further on his show, potentially prolonging the public nature of the feud.

The clash between Stephen A. Smith and Isiah Thomas underscores the complexities of sports media, where personal relationships and professional critiques often intersect. Smith’s reliance on anonymous sources for controversial takes reflects a broader trend in sports journalism, where the quest for engaging content sometimes leads to contentious exchanges.

Thomas’s defence of Jaylen Brown highlights the protective instincts of mentors towards their protégés, especially when public figures face criticism. This incident also sheds light on the pressures athletes face regarding their public image and marketability.

As Smith and Thomas continue their public sparring, the basketball community watches closely, not just for the entertainment value but for the deeper conversations about media responsibility, athlete representation, and the power dynamics within sports commentary.