While the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder were battling it out in a critical Game 4 of the NBA Finals on Friday night, something unexpected grabbed the internet’s attention—and it had nothing to do with the game itself.
ESPN’s outspoken analyst Stephen A. Smith may have been caught red-handed doing something you’d never expect from a top broadcaster: playing solitaire on his phone.
Fan Photos Raise Eyebrows
The incident came to light thanks to a sharp-eyed fan seated in the upper section of Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.
That fan snapped a photo of what appeared to be Smith, mid-game, tapping away at a game of solitaire on his smartphone.
From the look of the screen, it wasn’t just a quick glance either—there were enough cards in play to suggest he’d been at it for several minutes.
Naturally, that raised a few questions, and a whole lot of social media snark.
Real or Edited? The Internet Reacts
There’s still some debate about whether the image is legit or digitally altered.
But fueling the fire, another fan seated closer to the court also snapped a picture of Smith seemingly glued to his phone while the game was going on.
DailyMail.com tried reaching out to Stephen A. Smith’s reps for clarification, but as of now, there’s been no official comment.
Smith himself also hasn’t addressed the images—and didn’t mention a word about the alleged solitaire scandal during his on-air segment after the game ended.
NBA Fans Are Not Holding Back
Of course, Twitter (now X) had plenty to say. One user, @BleedBlue1986, didn’t mince words:
“How can you have all of these opinions while you’re playing solitaire instead of watching the game @stephenasmith?”
Others chimed in just as harshly, calling it “embarrassing” and labeling him a “disgrace.”
Whether it was boredom, multitasking, or just an unfortunate photo, the reaction online has been brutal.
A Game Worth Watching
Ironically, the game itself was full of drama—something Smith usually eats up on air.
The Thunder pulled off a stunning 12–1 run in the final minutes, rallying from behind to beat the Pacers 111–104 and tie the Finals at 2–2.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander showed why he’s this season’s MVP, racking up a dominant 35 points while shooting 50 percent from the field.
All Eyes on Stephen A. and Game 5
With the series heating up, fans will be watching closely—not just to see who takes Game 5, but also to see if Stephen A. addresses the solitaire saga.
Whether it was real or not, it’s clear the internet won’t let this one go quietly.
Because when you’re one of the loudest voices in sports, even your downtime gets dissected.
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