Stephen A. Smith shared a screenshot showing his solitaire app open on top of the live game, confirming what everyone sawStephen A. Smith (Photo By Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images)
Stephen A. Smith attended Game 4 between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Indiana Pacers, one of the most thrilling matchups of the NBA Finals series. The Pacers held the lead and controlled much of the game through the third quarter. However, the Thunder delivered a dramatic fourth-quarter comeback to secure the game.

Despite the excitement on the court, not everyone in the arena seemed fully engaged. ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith was spotted in the stands appearing more focused on his phone than the game. Cameras caught him playing a game of solitaire during the live action.

Smith didn’t shy away from the moment. After the clip made the rounds on social media, he took to X to address it head-on. He shared a screenshot showing his solitaire app open on top of the live game, confirming what everyone saw.

Before posting the screenshot, Stephen A. Smith had already responded by posting a separate post on X. On the post, he claimed he played during a break in the action.

“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!” Smith wrote.

Kevin Durant Reacts To Stephen A. Smith’s Solitaire Saga

Stephen A. Smith (Photo By Kirby Lee/Imagn Images)
Among those who reacted to Stephen A. Smith’s solitaire saga was former Thunder superstar Kevin Durant. Durant is never one to shy away from internet drama. He shared the image on his Instagram story, adding a short but hilarious caption.

“Cmon Steve,” Durant wrote.

The Thunder’s Game 4 win, combined with this off-court moment, made Friday night memorable both for what happened on the court and in the stands. Game 5 is scheduled for Monday.

Houston Texans star Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his illegal hit to Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence and the ensuing brawl between the teams in a lengthy statement on social media.  

Al-Shaair’s statement comes as his three-game suspension as a result of the incident has ended and he is slated to return to the field for the Texans on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

On December 1, an Al-Shaair hit to the head of a sliding and defenseless Lawrence caused chaos in Jacksonville. The defensive back needed to be restrained by several coaches and Lawrence has not played since taking the barbaric contact.

‘While so many jumped at the first opportunity to hop on the false narrative – that l’m a dirty player or bad person – the messages from all who stood by me were the only things keeping me mentally afloat during a time of isolation,’ Al-Shaair said on social media.

‘I’ve learned so much from this entire experience. Seeing myself on video – letting my emotions get the best of me to the point where I completely lost it – was an embarrassing and eye-opening moment for me.’

‘I’ve had to earn everything in my life. I never want to allow anyone to get me to a point where I jeopardize everything that I’ve worked all my life to obtain. That was not the way I want to represent myself or my family and I will continue to learn and grow from that moment.’

Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his hit to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence
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Azeez Al-Shaair has admitted regrets over his hit to Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence

The Texans defensive back was suspended for three games as a result of the hit to Lawrence
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The Texans defensive back was suspended for three games as a result of the hit to Lawrence

Al-Shaair said during his three-game ban, he met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and other league executives for the first time, taking issue with how he was characterized in the official announcement of his suspension.

The defender said he thought his character and integrity were ‘unjustifiably smeared’ in the release but the meeting with Goodell and others was ‘productive’ and gave him hope it would not happen again.

‘In that conversation – man-to-man – I owned and acknowledged that my actions following my ejection were careless and, in that moment, I didn’t think about the responsibility I have been blessed with to represent the shield,’ Al-Shaair continued.

‘I also stated that the letter, and specifically the language used in the letter, was equally as careless and conveyed that the context of the words used were not a reflection of my character, nor my career, as I have not been warned multiple times for my play on the field.’

Al-Shaair’s hit on Lawrence was not the only controversial incident he was involved in this season.

During the Texans’ game against the Bears in September, he punched Roschon Johnson, who wasn’t even in the game at the time of another sideline confrontation.

Al-Shaair ended his statement by saying his view is that everyone in the league office and on the field are on the same team to represent the NFL in the best nature possible, something he failed to do earlier this month.

‘Lastly, I’ll say that this world is full of negative people who can’t wait to tear you down, but if you move with love and compassion, the seeds of good you planted in others’ lives can grow into the very tree that shades you with comfort and compassion when you need it most,’ Al-Shaair concluded.

‘I am a man of God, I am a leader, a warrior and a lover. I am also a hell of a football player and I’m grateful to be back doing what I love.’