Stephen A. Smiths screaming turned fans off…
Kendrick Perkins was testing Stephen A. Smith’s final nerve on Sunday evening, and they both did the identical for tens of millions of viewers.
During the NBA Finals Game 7 pregame show on ESPN, Smith and Perkins went back and forth in a broadcast that may very well be heard with the TV muted.
It started with Smith accusing Perkins of “really annoying me today” in a fiery rant.
Stephen A. Smith wouldn’t stop yelling on Sunday’s NBA Finals Game 7 pregame show. X, @awfulannouncing
Stephen A. Smith rants about why Kendrick Perkins is “REALLY ANNOYING” him forward of Game 7. Bob Myers after the rant: “Just because you yell something doesn’t mean it’s true.” 🏀📺🎙️ #NBA #NBAFinals pic.twitter.com/R96DEjaaGv— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 22, 2025
“This is a man, that is a champion. He’s talking about a Game 7, like you know what, ‘Hey cat’s going to step up,’” Smith mentioned mentioned of his co-panelist while progressively raising his voice. “No, somebody’s palms are going to get sweaty. Backside going to get tight. Somebody. It always happens in a Game 7.”
With his voice reaching a shout, he added that Perkins “knows this [about Game 7’s being pressure-filled] because he is a champion.”
“Not only that, but when they lost in Game 7, you were injured and didn’t play. Had you played, you may have beaten the Lakers,” Smith mentioned, referencing Perkins lacking Game 7 against the Lakers while he was a member of the Celtics in the 2010 NBA Finals.
Ex-Warriors president Bob Myers shortly got here to the protection of Perkins and referred to as Smith out for his feedback, as nicely as his tone on the show.
“Can I defend your honor here?” Myers requested Perkins. “Just because you yell something doesn’t mean it’s true.”
Bob Myers had a powerful time protecting his poker face during this Stephen A. Smith rant. X, @awfulannouncing
As the show went to air on ABC for the national broadcast, Smith one way or the other kicked it up a notch — and a number of decibels.
“You know, [panel host Malika Andrews], so wonderful to see you tonight. Bob Myers, get the hell up. Big Perk, this is what it’s all about, baby. This is Game 7, this is Game 7!,” he mentioned to open a minute-and-a-half long diatribe in which his voice broke as the amount continued to go up. “That’s what tonight is about: the World is watching — not just America, the WORLD. Everybody across the world is watching. THIS is what you live for.”
“I can promise you, this man right here embodies the energy that all of us feel, but not all of us have outwardly,” Andrews mentioned in response.
The Game 7 pregame show switches over from ESPN to ABC, and Stephen A. Smith opens it with a lot more yelling. 🏀📺🎙️ #NBA #NBAFinals https://t.co/SR8LNrlV7u pic.twitter.com/mHHrEaDXh3— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 22, 2025
Not everybody was feeling that vitality, however.
“Bob Myers deserves better,” Bulls play-by-play man Chuck Swirsky wrote on X. “This is utter nonsense. Who wants to put up with this? Seriously.”
“Fantastic pregame coverage,” Fox Sports’ Geoff Schwartz posted. “Who is this for?”
Stephen A. Smith’s nonstop shouting turned a number of viewers off before Game 7 even tipped. ABC
“Unwatchable,” Field of 68’s Jeff Goodman wrote, including “I also can’t believe Bob Myers signed up for this.”
Former Fox Sports president and co-founder of Big Ten Network Bob Thompson put his emotions — and seemingly those of numerous viewers — about Smith’s antics slightly succinctly:
“Does he actually do anything but yell?” he posted to X.
Smith’s efficiency got here in the final recreation before the “Inside the NBA” crew of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith transfer over from TNT for a important function pre- and postgame in ESPN’s NBA protection next season.
The Thunder went on to win Game 7 by a 103-91 rating for the franchise’s first title on Sunday evening, at least giving fans a probability to drown out Smith with some yelling of their own.
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