Kendrick Perkins was testing Stephen A. Smith\u2019s last nerve on Sunday night, and they both did the same for millions of viewers.<\/p>\n
During the NBA Finals Game 7 pregame show on ESPN, Smith and Perkins went back and forth in a broadcast that could be heard with the TV muted.<\/p>\n
It began with Smith accusing Perkins of \u201creally annoying me today\u201d in a fiery rant. <\/p>\n
Stephen A. Smith wouldn\u2019t stop yelling on Sunday\u2019s NBA Finals Game 7 pregame show. X, @awfulannouncing<\/p>\n
Stephen A. Smith rants about why Kendrick Perkins is “REALLY ANNOYING” him ahead of Game 7. <\/p>\n
Bob Myers after the rant: “Just because you yell something doesn’t mean it’s true.” \ud83c\udfc0\ud83d\udcfa\ud83c\udf99\ufe0f #NBA<\/a> #NBAFinals<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/R96DEjaaGv<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThis is a man, that is a champion. He\u2019s talking about a Game 7, like you know what, \u2018Hey cat\u2019s going to step up,’\u201d Smith said said of his co-panelist while progressively raising his voice. \u201cNo, somebody\u2019s palms are going to get sweaty. Backside going to get tight. Somebody. It always happens in a Game 7.\u201d<\/p>\n With his voice reaching a shout, he added that Perkins \u201cknows this [about Game 7\u2019s being pressure-filled] because he is a champion.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot only that, but when they lost in Game 7, you were injured and didn\u2019t play. Had you played, you may have beaten the Lakers,\u201d Smith said, referencing Perkins missing Game 7 against the Lakers while he was a member of the Celtics in the 2010 NBA Finals.<\/p>\n Ex-Warriors president Bob Myers quickly came to the defense of Perkins and called Smith out for his comments, as well as his tone on the show.<\/p>\n \u201cCan I defend your honor here?\u201d Myers asked Perkins. \u201cJust because you yell something doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s true.\u201d<\/p>\n Bob Myers had a tough time keeping his poker face during this Stephen A. Smith rant. X, @awfulannouncing<\/p>\n As the show went to air on ABC for the national broadcast, Smith somehow kicked it up a notch \u2014 and multiple decibels.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, [panel host Malika Andrews], so wonderful to see you tonight. Bob Myers, get the hell up. Big Perk, this is what it\u2019s all about, baby. This is Game 7, this is Game 7!,\u201d he said to open a minute-and-a-half long diatribe in which his voice broke as the volume continued to go up. \u201cThat\u2019s what tonight is about: the World is watching \u2014 not just America, the WORLD. Everybody across the world is watching. THIS is what you live for.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can promise you, this man right here embodies the energy that all of us feel, but not all of us have outwardly,\u201d Andrews said in response.<\/p>\n The Game 7 pregame show switches over from ESPN to ABC, and Stephen A. Smith opens it with much more yelling. \ud83c\udfc0\ud83d\udcfa\ud83c\udf99\ufe0f #NBA<\/a> #NBAFinals<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/SR8LNrlV7u<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/mHHrEaDXh3<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) June 22, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Not everyone was feeling that energy, however.<\/p>\n \u201cBob Myers deserves better,\u201d Bulls play-by-play man Chuck Swirsky wrote on X<\/a>. \u201cThis is utter nonsense. Who wants to put up with this? Seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFantastic pregame coverage,\u201d Fox Sports\u2019 Geoff Schwartz posted<\/a>. \u201cWho is this for?\u201d<\/p>\n Stephen A. Smith\u2019s nonstop shouting turned several viewers off before Game 7 even tipped. ABC<\/p>\n \u201cUnwatchable,\u201d Field of 68\u2019s Jeff Goodman wrote<\/a>, adding \u201cI also can\u2019t believe Bob Myers signed up for this.\u201d<\/p>\n Former Fox Sports president and co-founder of Big Ten Network Bob Thompson put his feelings \u2014 and seemingly those of countless viewers \u2014 about Smith\u2019s antics rather succinctly:<\/p>\n \u201cDoes he actually do anything but yell?\u201d he posted to X<\/a>.<\/p>\n Smith\u2019s performance came in the last game before the \u201cInside the NBA\u201d crew of Ernie Johnson, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O\u2019Neal and Kenny Smith move over from TNT for a significant role pre- and postgame in ESPN\u2019s NBA coverage next season.<\/p>\n The Thunder went on to win Game 7 by a 103-91 score<\/a> for the franchise\u2019s first title on Sunday night, at least giving fans a chance to drown out Smith with some yelling of their own.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t