Stephen A. Smith didn’t mince words while responding to Jaylen Brown after the Celtics star’s “f–k Stephen A” rant during a Twitch livestream Sunday.
During Monday’s installment of “First Take” on ESPN, Smith didn’t back down in their feud — which dates back to the end of Boston’s season after blowing a 3-1 series lead to the 76ers in the first round of the playoffs — and claimed “the list goes on” of things he could report about Brown.
“But in the end, Jaylen Brown be careful what you wish for,” Smith said. “You really want me to start reporting on that level? You understand? Locker room, how the organization might think about you, how the city may feel about you, how Jayson Tatum may or may not feel about you, sneaker deals, endorsement deals, the list goes on and on.
“The season is over bro. You’re on Twitch trying to do what I do and talking about me needing to step away. It makes no sense.
“I’m not being disrespectful. I’m simply making the point that it is not wise after 24 hours of having your season over in the first round, for you to be coming out talking about that is your favorite season. It ain’t the smartest thing in the world to do.
“You’re talking about clickbait and all of that stuff, somebody told you, one of the best ways to get it is to bring up my name and that’s what you did. So who’s really looking for clickbait? Is it me or is it you?”
Smith addressed Brown on-air after the NBA champ ripped him on a Twitch livestream and doubled down on his call for “First Take” host to retire — adding that Smith uses his platform for “clickbait” instead of journalism.
“F–k Stephen A,” Brown said, according to video clips from the Saturday stream. “Stephen A, Stephen B, Stephen C. Like my offer still stands: You want me to be quiet and stop streaming, well I want you to be quiet and get off these networks. Because you’re not using your platform to do real journalism.”
Warning: Adult Language
Their rift stems from Smith’s remarks when he said earlier this month that it wasn’t a good look that Brown said in a separate livestream that this was his “favorite” season of his career after Boston’s first-round playoff exit.
At the time, Smith urged Brown to “be quiet” and “go on vacation” unless he was trying to get traded.
Brown reposted the clip of Smith and responded with, “I’ll ‘be quiet’ / stop streaming if you ‘be quiet’ and retire let’s give the people what they want.”
The Celtics were two years removed from a championship and without their star forward Jayson Tatum, who was working his way back from a torn Achilles, this season.
Brown was tasked with carrying much of the load before Tatum’s return.
He was also fined $50,000 for criticizing referees while on a livestream following the Celtics’ season-ending loss to Philadelphia.
Brown recorded a career-best 28.7 points per game during the regular season and made a fourth consecutive All-Star Game.
