Stephen A. Smith Criticized for In-Game Solitaire

ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith faced widespread criticism after being caught playing Solitaire on his phone during live gameplay of Game 4 of the 2025 NBA Finals between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers, contradicting his claim that he only played during timeouts. Multiple videos and fan accounts supported that the incident occurred during the game, leading to accusations of dishonesty. NBA star Kevin Durant and many fans mocked Smith, referencing his previous harsh takes on players like Durant and Tyrese Haliburton. The incident fueled debate about Smith's credibility, professionalism, and the standards of ESPN analysts. Smith attempted to downplay the controversy, insisting he could multitask and predicting the Finals would go to seven games. The Thunder rallied in the fourth quarter to win Game 4 and tie the series 2-2.