Stephen A. Smith “Banned” From NBA Coverage? Viral Solitaire Post Sparks Confusion And Backlash

Just another internet rumor!

June 17, 2026

This article was last updated by Rovik Parajuli on June 17, 2026

A viral Facebook post recently claimed that ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith had been permanently banned from covering NBA games, but the truth is far less dramatic.

The rumor began when the satirical sports page Box Score PH posted:

While the post quickly made waves online, it was purely satirical as there is no truth to the claim that ESPN has banned Smith.

However, the story does stem from a very real moment that drew criticism from both fans and fellow players.

Stephen A. Smith Was Caught Playing Solitaire During The NBA Finals

Stephen A. Smith found himself at the center of controversy during Game 4 of the NBA Finals, when cameras caught him playing Solitaire on his phone while seated courtside at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

NBA star Kevin Durant added fuel to the fire by sharing a screenshot of Smith mid-game on his Instagram story, writing:

Yep! That’s me. Who would’ve thought….I can multi-task. Especially during TIMEOUTS! Hope y’all are enjoying the NBA Finals.

This is going 7 games now, peeps!

— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith)

The clip quickly went viral, with users pointing out that Smith appeared to be playing the card game during live action, not just during a break in play.

He responded to the criticism on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), saying:

But a Community Note attached to his post countered his claim, referencing video footage that showed Smith playing the game while the Thunder and Pacers were actively running plays.

— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith)

The video shows the Thunder going for a basket, a cut to Smith on his phone, and then the Pacers continuing with a possession, all with no timeout in sight.

The note stated,

“Stephen A. is lying. This photo was taken during gameplay, NOT during a timeout.”

Stephen A. Smith’s Ongoing Tension With Pacers Fans

The Solitaire controversy comes amid rising tensions between Smith and Indiana Pacers fans.

Smith previously refused to call Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton a “superstar,” sparking frustration after the team’s Game 3 win.

Though Haliburton didn’t name anyone directly, his comments appeared to target Smith, and the First Take host didn’t hesitate to fire back:

“Oh, by the way, just in case he was talking about me — my brother, I’m not going away. Players far more accomplished and far more superior have made their efforts trying to call me out. How has that worked out?”

To be clear: Stephen A. Smith has not been banned by ESPN or the NBA.

The rumor was started by a joke post and quickly spiraled due to the real viral video that inspired it.

Still, the moment has sparked widespread debate about professionalism, attention, and most of all, how not to multitask when millions are watching you.

Smith may not be banned, but he’s certainly become the butt of a new meme and a punchline the internet won’t forget anytime soon.

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Rovik Parajuli

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