Stephen A. Smith clashes with former NBA GM Bob Myers over suggestion that he ‘tears teams apart’
Stephen A. Smith has clashed with Bob Myers over the ex-Golden State Warriors GM’s suggestion that he is “tearing teams apart” ahead of Game 2 of the NBA Finals.
When discussing Jason Kidd’s comments about Jaylen Brown being the best player on the Celtics – and not Jayson Tatum – just a few days ago before Game 1, Meyers pointed out that the media holds debates to divide teams’ locker rooms, for suggesting that Smith is one of the reporters doing just that.
Meyers was the face of the Warriors’ front office from 2012 to 2023, winning four NBA titles after identifying and assembling the talents of Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson. He was also behind the Kevin Durant trade in 2016 and often had to answer questions about who was the best player between the power forward and Curry.
“The Celtics are at the top, right,” Myers said. “And anytime you were at the top, people were always coming to Curry and Durant. They came to you in the media. They come to you on the street. And the thing is – and Josh knows this – what matters is your locker room. The structure of that locker room and what they can withstand.
“That Knicks fabric, you had it this year, but it’s hard to find. We’re tearing teams apart more than ever before. Maybe on purpose, maybe not, maybe that guy down there [pointing to Smith].’
Stephen A. Smith Didn’t Appreciate Bob Myers’ Suggestion That He ‘Tear Teams Apart’ Before Game 2 of the NBA Finals
Then Smith jumped to his own defense and said, “Not me. Not me. Not me. That’s social media. I’m not that.’
As the rest of the panel burst into laughter, Myers joked that he had wrongly accused the wrong media member.
“Maybe,” Myers asked. ‘Is that someone else? For a moment I thought it was you.’
He added: “We do this… we attack teams… and supposedly if you are the best team. That is the team we come out the hardest for and children do that too…’
Myers’ take on Smith was based on Jason Kidd, who suggested that Jaylen Brown is Boston’s best player and not Jayson Tatum – a common debate in the sports media
In May, Smith went to Green after the Warriors star said on Shaquille O’Neal’s podcast that he had “lost respect” for the pundit.
ESPN’s “First Take” co-host Molly Qerim defended Green and asked Smith if he had the courtesy to warn the former NBA Defensive Player of the Year about his past shots that could have potentially hurt the NBA star in the past.
Earlier this year, in March, Smith had another clash, this time with ESPN colleague Pat McAfee. The former gambler had an “explosive argument” with the longtime NBA pundit, who he called a “motherf***er” during the argument.
The mysterious clash has reportedly been cleared up, with Smith saying he has “no problem” with McAfee, who now claims “just love for Stephen A.” to have.