While the NBA Finals were heating up between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday night, ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith may have been focused on a very different kind of game—on his phone.

A Viral Moment From the Upper Bowl

During a key stretch of Game 4 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, a fan sitting high up in the arena snapped a photo that’s since gone viral.

The image appears to show Smith sitting courtside… playing solitaire on his phone. Yes, that solitaire.

The photo quickly made the rounds on social media, where eagle-eyed fans noticed what looked like a nearly complete game on his screen—suggesting he hadn’t just started and had been at it for a few minutes.

Speculation Swirls Over Whether the Photo Is Real

Now, here’s the twist—no one can say for sure if the photo was edited.

But what adds fuel to the fire is that a different fan, this time seated in the lower deck, also snapped Smith looking at his phone during the game. So, at the very least, there’s some consistency.

Stephen A.’s reps have not yet responded to requests for comment from DailyMail.com, and the man himself didn’t address the situation on-air when he reappeared on ESPN after the game ended.

Fans Sound Off on Social Media

That didn’t stop the internet from doing what it does best—reacting.

One user on X (formerly Twitter), @BleedBlue1986, shared the image with the caption:
“How can you have all of these opinions while you’re playing solitaire instead of watching the game @stephenasmith?”

The backlash didn’t stop there.
Another fan called the move “embarrassing,” while a third labeled Smith “a disgrace.”

Ouch.

Meanwhile, The Game Was a Nail-Biter

While all this was going down, the Thunder pulled off an incredible late-game rally.

Down the stretch, they outscored the Pacers 12-1 in the final three minutes to snatch a 111-104 win, tying the NBA Finals at 2-2.

Leading the charge was league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who dropped 35 points and went 12-of-24 from the floor.

Silent on the Scandal, Loud on the Analysis

Despite the noise online, Stephen A. Smith didn’t make any mention of the solitaire saga during ESPN’s post-game coverage.

He was back on air breaking down the game with his usual fiery commentary—business as usual, at least on camera.

What Happens Next?

Will Smith address the photo? Was it just a momentary distraction, or has a meme-worthy moment turned into a full-blown PR headache?

For now, social media is having a field day, and Stephen A. may be facing more questions about his phone habits than his hot takes.