Given how bold and unapologetic Stephen A. Smith is with his basketball takes, it’s no surprise that he often clashes with NBA players and fellow analysts. However, this time it appears the New Orleans Pelicans organization took offense to his comments about Zion Williamson.
The franchise seemingly responded by trolling SAS with clips of his own basketball background, which only prompted him to fire back, reminding the Pelicans that, in his view, they are simply not on his level to pull off such a daring move.
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The Pelicans came out to defend their star
There was always the belief that if Zion were ever healthy for a prolonged period, the Pelicans would be worthy enough to challenge even the most prolific championship contenders. Yet when he was available for 35 consecutive games in the 2025-26 season, New Orleans lost 20 of those contests. So, that outcome challenged the narrative that his availability alone would transform the Pelicans into a dominant force in the NBA.
Smith questioned Zion’s dedication, arguing that the former Duke sensation has fallen short of immense expectations once placed upon him. According to Stephen A., even when Williamson is available, he has not consistently demonstrated the ability to lead his team to victories.
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“They were losing games because you wasn’t on the court, now they’re losing games with you on the court,” Smith said
In response, the Pelicans took a more playful yet pointed approach, mocking Stephen A.’s basketball resume and advising him to “stick to solitaire,” a reference to the viral moment in Game 4 of the 2025 NBA Finals when Smith was seen playing solitaire instead of watching the game. The implications were clear – the Pelicans suggested that Smith focus less on criticizing its members and more on improving his own credibility in the sport.
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Smith wasn’t having any of it
Unsurprisingly, Smith did not take the jab lightly. Thus, on the most recent episode of “First Take,” he pushed back strongly, asserting that the Pelicans were not in a position to challenge him quickly. Not only did he label the organization as “trash,” but he also reminded them how he was well beyond their stature to troll him in front of millions on social media.
“My popularity is bigger than anybody on your team outside of Zion… 65 games have been played, and you’re still searching for your 20th victory. Y’all are horrible! Y’all have been trash! That is the reality,” Smith said. “You’re worth about $3.55 billion right now. That ranks 29th out of 30 teams in the NBA. This is your 24th year in the NBA. You used to be the Hornets, now you’re the Pelicans, that’s 2 nicknames. That’s how many playoff victories you have… You got the time to clap back at me, at least tell America why. It’s the only thing that can make you relevant.”
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While no NBA organization typically tolerates public criticism without response, the Pelicans’ social media activity suggests this exchange may not end anytime soon. The situation has grown increasingly personal, and it now remains to be seen how, or if, Pelicans continues to aggravate this back-and-forth with the veteran media analyst.
This story was originally published by Basketball Network on Mar 4, 2026, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.