Stephen A Smith Simply Refuses To Stop Trying To Beef With NBA Players, This Time Targeting Ja Morant

Justin Ford. Getty Images.

It's another day that ends in "Y", which naturally means we have another instance of Stephen A Smith attempting to beef with another NBA star. A few days ago, it was Tyrese Haliburton for his comments on the state of the NBA's media and how it's mostly terrible. He didn't name any names or anything, but that didn't stop Stephen A from basically going full Kevin Durant beef on him. It was kind of weird because nothing Haliburton said was all that crazy or even necessarily wrong 

Fast forward to around 5 days later, and we're back again. This time, it's over Stephen A's claim that NBA players (like Jimmy Butler) don't feel like Memphis as a city is the safest environment, and that nobody wants to be there coming off the Desmond Bane trade

Jimmy Butler is scared of being in Memphis, but is cool being in the Bay Area? Could this maybe have anything to do with the fact that the Grizzlies didn't want to offer Butler an extension while he was going through his trade demand process, and maybe that's why he didn't want to go to MEM? No no, the real reason is Butler "doesn't feel like it's a safe environment"?? That seems….kind of odd. Every city has its crime and bad parts, so it does feel a little unfair and reckless to group all of Memphis together and frame it as some city that NBA players are scared to be in. 

As you could expect, given that it's 2025, we all knew there was going to be some sort of response from the Grizzlies' side, and it came via Ja Morant

Advertisement

Maybe he should have stayed quiet, because while Morant's response isn't bad, it isn't a personal attack etc, he opened the door. He gave Stephen A the lane to do what he does best, which is try and publicly beef with an NBA player

So this is what we’re doing now @JaMorant? I recall talking about the Finals. But the @memgrizzmade news because of Bane getting traded. AND, your possible extension coming up. Would you prefer I go into detail about WTH has been going on in Memphis? Why players have stated they’re not interested in going? Or even MORE details? Or would you like me to leave well enough alone, and let the great peeps of Memphis address it on their own? Your call! I’m all ears

As I said in the Halbi blog, the same is true here as well. Stephen A basically went with his "you don't want to make an enemy out of me" KD approach

Now, if we're going to be fair here, it's not crazy that a "sports" talk show would be talking about the Grizzlies during the NBA Finals immediately after the Grizzlies just traded Desmond Bane to the Magic. In that aspect, I have to push back on Ja's comments. It's perfectly fine to talk about multiple NBA topics during the Finals, so that part is whatever.

The direction Stephen A chose to go while discussing that trade is the issue. To float around shit like that is where he maybe goes too far, and I think his response is pretty telling. That screams like a guy who knew he was full of shit is now loudly and publicly doubling down with even more bullshit. I think we've seen plenty of examples of this both in sports and politics, and it's no surprise that Stephen A has floated the idea of doing both.

Advertisement

If you're going to talk like that and suggest all these things, well then lets hear them. Say it with your chest. Go on TV and go on record as to why NBA players aren't going to Memphis. Tell us what the hell is REALLY going on. What could these "MORE details" be? Because as of now, it all seems like empty threats. Put something on the record that can be verified and fact-checked. Don't just say "players". Name who they are so they can be asked about it, and your story can be verified.

Of course, he won't. We've seen this movie before, so we know how this goes. He'll go on his show, call out Morant again, and ride this wave just like he did for Haliburton and then his solitaire mishap

Meanwhile, this is one of the biggest faces and voices ESPN has on its NBA coverage. Two weird attempts to beef with NBA players within a week, sneaky letting it slip that he was happy Haliburton was hurt during the halfitme show, getting caught not watching live action because he's playing on his phone, it's been a banner week for Stephen A all things considered. Granted, he looks worse in all of these instances, but it makes no difference. The checks still cash, ESPN still has him all over their network and involved in their NBA coverage, so is anyone surprised he keeps going back to this well? Seems to be working out fairly well for him.

Anyway, he's some Ja Morant highlights because I think we all need to cleanse our palate