Stephen A. Smith praises HBCU credits during wild rant about NOLA’s social media attacks
Stephen A. Smith he never backed down from a confrontation, and he recently got into a fight with New Orleans Pelicans. After the segment where he was critical of Zion Williamson’s weightthe Pelicans fired back on social media, reposting a video showing Stephen A. Smith misses the jump shots he attempted on the basketball court, as well as how he boxes to show that he is the inferior athlete.
The audio in the video was also a throwback to his assessment of Kwame Brown’s involvement in the Pau Gasol trade in February 2008, where he called Brown a “bona fide scrub.” Smith fired back on Wednesday’s edition of ESPN First Take, even advertising his HBCU credentials.
“You left something out and you know what? You left out the fact that I was a fourth grader and I came back because I was at a first grade reading level. And here I am on national television after graduating from an HBCU, constantly going up against Hall of Famers who played professional sports…elite journalists in this business, and me coming from an HBCU still doing what I am.”
Smith graduated from Winston-Salem State University and has made significant philanthropy to HBCUs throughout his career. He is too used the platform from First Take to light up HBCUs and HBCU athletics, but Smith often cites his HBCU connection in many of the arguments and wars of words in which he engages.
Regardless, the Pelicans aren’t fazed, tweeting Smith’s rant with the caption “a five-minute monologue from a former NBA player on how to shoot.” The feud will eventually settle down, but Steven A. is determined to make it known that he is not to be trifled with.
2026-03-04 22:03:00
