The internet exploded once again when former NBA star Stephen Jackson suddenly “fired” directly at the famous sports writer Stephen A. Smith during a podcast last night. No beating around the bush, no hidden meaning – Jackson called Smith out directly and accused him of being “inconsistent and two-faced” when commenting on sports figures.
According to Jackson, Stephen A. Smith is “famous” for harshly attacking athletes of color whenever they get into controversy – but he was “unusually gentle” when mentioning Alexis Ohanian, Serena Williams’ husband. “He can yell at every NBA player, but when it comes to Serena Williams’ husband, he suddenly becomes polite and gentle, like he’s reading poetry,” Jackson quipped.
In the climax, Jackson added fuel to the fire: “If you have the energy to criticize Kyrie, KD, or Ja Morant, save that energy for everyone else. Don’t be one way or another just because someone is a white businessman married to Serena Williams.”
The comment caused a moment of silence – and then immediately exploded online. The hashtag #KeepTheSameEnergy flooded Twitter (X) in just 20 minutes, with thousands of people discussing: was Stephen Jackson hitting the nail on the head, or was he just “polishing his name”?
One fan commented: “Jackson may be a little crude, but he’s right. Stephen A. has a good target sometimes, and we all see that.” Meanwhile, Stephen A. Smith’s supporters countered: “He’s just doing his job. Don’t bring race into every debate.”
Stephen A. Smith has yet to officially respond, but sources close to him say he is “extremely upset” and may speak out on First Take early next week.
An anonymous sports commentator commented: “When two Stephens go head-to-head, you know Twitter is going to be on fire. They both love the camera and they both know how to get people talking.”
Until Stephen A. spoke out, public opinion was clearly divided – one side believed Jackson was just looking for attention, while the other insisted he had spoken the truth that no one else dared to.
One thing is for sure: the “Stephen vs. Stephen” drama has only just begun, and sports audiences are eager to see who will “strike” next.
