Stephen A. Smith has been in a tug of war with his emotions regarding his take on Jaylen Brown. The media veteran was beefing with Isiah Thomas over his ‘Unmarketable’ remark on JB only last week. Now, Stephen A. is all praise for the Celtics star, and on the recent episode of First Take, he was seen hyping up his leadership skills.
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In the recently concluded Eastern Conference Finals where the Celtics swept the Pacers, Brown was awarded the Larry Bird ECF MVP title. Per Stephen A., Brown is the head of the group and is doing a great job leading them. He said, “He’s not just an elite player. The number two player on the Boston Celtics in the eyes of most, number one in some, but he’s also the clear-cut vocal leader.”
.@stephenasmith says Jaylen Brown's leadership makes him the most important player on the Celtics heading into the NBA Finals.
"You're looking for Jayson Tatum to perform. You're looking to Jaylen Brown to galvanize the troops while performing." 👀 pic.twitter.com/4jvBPgx8SZ
— First Take (@FirstTake) May 29, 2024
Now that they’ve filled up one spot in the Finals and are waiting for the final word on Minnesota vs Dallas, SAS said that the Celtics would need more from their vocal leader in the Finals. A few days ago, Stephen A., citing his unnamed NBA source, said, “Jaylen Brown, it’s not so much that he’s underrated, it’s that he’s just not liked because of his I-am-better-than-you attitude…he is not as marketable as he should be”
I have no idea what you’re talking about @IsiahThomas. I have been a fan of Jaylen Brown for years. Still am. What’s unfortunate is that YOU — who’s known for me decades — would choose to go on X to expressed whatever dissent you feel instead of calling me directly. But I get it.… https://t.co/uq7yCyhneJ
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) May 26, 2024
After his on-air admission, Isiah Thomas posted a reply to him on X. The Pistons legend wrote, “…he [JB] is 100 percent marketable and before you slander his name @stephenasmith tell your source to put their name on it or don’t speak on it.” Even though Stephen A. tried to clear out the confusion with a quick response, the damage was done. Now, the media veteran is all about the Celtics and JB praise.
Stephen A. Smith picks the Boston Celtics to win the NBA title
Despite the Celtics making their way into the NBA Finals by clearing out the Eastern Conference, people are hesitant to give them the credit. Many people believe that in their playoff run, they have been lucky with the opposition suffering some brutal injuries. However, Stephen A. is not on that bandwagon. On a recent episode of First Take, the media veteran was asked to give his prediction for the upcoming Finals.
"If I had to pick right now, I would tell you Boston [will win the NBA championship]. But I'm not sold. I think it's that tight."
👀 @stephenasmith pic.twitter.com/J1Peo4opvQ
— First Take (@FirstTake) May 29, 2024
He said, “If I had to pick right now, I would tell you Boston [will win the NBA championship]. But I’m not sold. I think it’s that tight.” Stephen A. doesn’t have a clear winner yet because he believes that whichever team manages to come out of the West, will present a strong challenge for the Celtics. In four games, the Mavericks are leading the WCF 3-1, and are strong favorites to clinch the series in Minnesota.
