CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – FEBRUARY 14: Head coach Stephen A. Smith of Team Stephen A. looks on before the 2020 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game Presented By Ruffles at Wintrust Arena on February 14, 2020 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
ESPN television personality Stephen A. Smith is well-known for his controversial sports takes. But according to former NBA star Stephon Marbury, the inflammatory analyst has taken things too far.
After the Brooklyn Nets were eliminated from the postseason, Smith called star point guard Kyrie Irving one of the “most delusional” athletes in American history. Marbury responded by calling Smith one of the “biggest Uncle Tom’s on the planet.”
The former All-Star didn’t stop there. He later said Smith “breaks down black athletes for gain and fame.”
In response to this tweet, one fan asked when Smith is going to get the “Will Smith/Chris Rock treatment” — referencing the infamous slap at this year’s Oscars.
“It’s coming,” Marbury responded.
Marbury shared a viral video message detailing his thoughts about Smith’s “sad” take on Irving.
“It’s sad to hear Stephen A. Smith talk about Kyrie Irving the way how he’s talking about him,” he said. “Calling him selfish — this man has done so much stuff. for human beings and giving back and trying to help so many different people of all different cultures.”
As noted by Smith himself, Marbury’s beef with the ESPN analyst goes all the way back to 2009.
“I’m not going to go off on Stephon Marbury. But I will say that Stephon Marbury has had a problem with me since 2009 because we thought he was a bit bizarre when he was eating vaseline,” Smith explained in response to the former athlete’s criticism. “Literally on video, like it was a bunch of cheeseburgers. Like gobbling vaseline, crying, later admitted he was depressed.”
Based on this back and fourth, it doesn’t look like this beef is getting squashed anytime soon.