Stephen A. Smith, the ever-vocal ESPN personality, found himself in the crosshairs of another equally outspoken figure, Jason Whitlock, and boy, was it a spectacle. The drama started when Smith dropped a workout video on X (formerly known as Twitter) showing off his ahem silky shooting skills. Partnered with renowned shooting coach Lethal Shooter, Smith managed to drain some set and pull-up shots like a man determined to rewrite his basketball narrative—or at least impress Angel Reese fans.
Unfortunately for Smith, Jason Whitlock was not having it. The former ESPN reporter pounced on the video faster than Smith could say “blasphemous!” Whitlock, armed with sarcasm sharper than a coach’s whistle, called out Smith’s decades-long claims of a knee injury that supposedly ended his collegiate career at Winston-Salem State University.
“This man is 57 years old and releasing Angel Reese workout videos because he’s spent 30 years lying about a basketball career in high school and at Winston Salem State,” Whitlock fired off on social media. “Al Bundy is laughing at this. Just show us where they inserted the 6-inch screw in your knee.”
Ouch.
Stephen A.’s College Numbers: Not Exactly Redick-Level
For those unfamiliar with Smith’s basketball resume, let’s just say it’s not lighting up the stat sheet. During his 1990-91 season at Winston-Salem State, Smith reportedly averaged 1.5 points and one assist per game. The numbers have been meme-worthy fodder for years, often resurrected online to poke fun at the sports personality.
Smith, of course, has a go-to defense: the infamous knee injury. He’s long claimed his basketball career came to a screeching halt after he “cracked [his] kneecap in half,” a devastating injury that left him with a six-inch screw in his knee—a detail he’s mentioned more times than most analysts can count LeBron’s triple-doubles.
But does Whitlock buy it? Not even a little. For him, seeing Smith move pain-free in the workout video was enough evidence to cry foul.
The Knee Debate: Fact or Fiction?
Over the years, Smith has passionately defended his basketball history, and, in typical Stephen A. fashion, he’s done so with a mix of indignation and theatrics. In a 2023 episode of The Stephen A. Smith Show, he gave an elaborate recount of his injury:
“I’m sick and tired of people lying about my basketball resume. … I was good enough to get a basketball scholarship. … My bone cracked in half my first year at Winston-Salem State. I still have those knee pains to this very day.”
Smith also addressed the skepticism during a segment on NBA Countdown in 2022, hilariously trying to justify his dismal stats compared to JJ Redick and Jalen Rose. As his colleagues roasted him for his 1.5 ppg average, Smith shot back, “What they’re not telling you is that I only played in one game because I cracked my kneecap in half, but that’s neither here nor there.”
Whitlock Doubles Down
Whitlock, however, isn’t buying the injury excuse—or at least, not the dramatic version Stephen A. sells. His scathing critique suggests he sees the workout video as more of a PR stunt than a legitimate showcase of basketball prowess. And while Smith has yet to respond to Whitlock’s digs, given his history of clapbacks, it’s safe to assume the feud isn’t over.
The Final Shot
Whether you side with Stephen A. and his screw-laden knee story or think Whitlock’s skepticism hits the mark, one thing’s certain: this exchange is peak sports media entertainment. Stephen A. may not have had a Hall of Fame basketball career, but his ability to stir the pot? Unparalleled.
So, stay tuned, folks. The only thing more entertaining than Stephen A.’s highlight reel might just be his response to Whitlock’s blistering take.
