Stephen A. Smith accused of faking attentiveness at the NBA Finals following the Solitaire scandal

In a moment that quickly went viral, ESPN’s most recognizable personality, Stephen A. Smith, has come under fire after being caught appearing to play Solitaire on his laptop during Game 4 of the NBA Finals. The incident has ignited a wave of backlash, with critics accusing Smith of faking attentiveness on live television. It’s a PR moment neither ESPN nor Smith anticipated, especially during one of the most-watched sports events of the year.

The controversy began when cameras panned to the press row during a commercial break and briefly lingered on Smith. What seemed like a standard behind-the-scenes glimpse turned scandalous when viewers noticed a familiar game interface on his screen—Microsoft Solitaire. Despite attempts by the network to quickly cut away, screenshots had already been captured and circulated widely on social media.

Critics were swift to condemn the act as disrespectful to both the NBA and the fans. “How are you supposed to give credible analysis when you’re not even watching the game?” tweeted one user, garnering over 100,000 likes. Others accused Smith of being performative—delivering passionate rants on TV while barely engaging with the action on the court in real time.

Stephen A., never one to shy away from controversy, responded with a video post on X (formerly Twitter), attempting to downplay the incident. “It was during a timeout. Y’all need to calm the hell down,” he said, wearing a visibly annoyed expression. However, the backlash only intensified, with viewers pointing out that attention during timeouts is crucial for analysts gathering context.

Some sports insiders even claimed this wasn’t an isolated incident. A freelance cameraman who has worked multiple NBA events with ESPN told The Athletic under condition of anonymity that Smith is “notoriously disengaged” when off-camera. “There’s a lot of energy when the lights are on. But when they’re off? He’s on his phone, laptop, or talking about other stuff entirely.”

In response to the growing criticism, ESPN released a brief statement defending their star analyst. “Stephen A. Smith remains one of the most dedicated and insightful voices in sports. Any implication otherwise misrepresents his professionalism,” the statement read. But not everyone was convinced by the network’s corporate spin.

Former ESPN colleagues have also weighed in. Jemele Hill, who has had her own turbulent history with the network, tweeted cryptically: “Some folks been faking it for a while. Don’t act surprised now.” The post quickly gained traction and reignited conversations about authenticity in sports journalism.

Amid the chaos, a new term began trending on social media: “Solitaire Syndrome”—a tongue-in-cheek way to describe media personalities who pretend to be engaged while actually doing something else. Memes featuring Smith’s exaggerated facial expressions and Solitaire cards flooded the internet.

This isn’t the first time Smith has been caught in a questionable moment. From his past on-air gaffes to his infamous mispronunciations and hot takes, he has often walked the line between charismatic and careless. But this incident feels different to fans, especially since it challenges the core of his brand—being the ultimate sports authority.

While some defenders have claimed Solitaire is a harmless way to stay mentally active during breaks, others argue that it symbolizes a deeper problem in sports broadcasting: the over-reliance on showmanship over substance. “He’s paid to analyze, not to play games,” one Reddit user wrote in a post that attracted thousands of comments.

Interestingly, a few players weighed in on the situation. Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green, known for his candid takes, commented during a podcast: “Man, if you bored at the Finals, what are you even doing there?” His comment drew both laughs and nods of agreement from fans and fellow players.

The timing of the scandal is particularly awkward for ESPN, which is in the midst of contract negotiations with the NBA for future broadcasting rights. As they try to position themselves as the league’s top media partner, distractions like this only complicate the narrative.

Meanwhile, competing networks have subtly capitalized on the moment. TNT’s Charles Barkley jokingly pulled out a deck of cards during a live segment, saying, “At least I play the real way, not the Windows way.” His co-hosts erupted in laughter, poking fun at their rival without naming names.

Smith’s supporters argue that his track record should earn him the benefit of the doubt. “One game of Solitaire doesn’t erase 20 years of coverage,” wrote a longtime viewer. But in the court of public opinion, moments matter—and in an era of 10-second clips and instant judgments, optics often trump context.

What happens next remains unclear. Sources inside ESPN suggest that Smith has been asked to keep a lower profile for the remainder of the Finals, though he remains scheduled to appear on First Take as usual. Whether the network will implement behind-the-scenes reforms is unknown.

For now, the Solitaire incident serves as a strange but telling metaphor for the state of modern sports media. Audiences are watching closely—perhaps more closely than the analysts themselves. And as Smith himself once said during a fiery segment: “Perception is reality.”

In this case, that perception is of a man who talks a big game—but may not always be watching it.