Kevin Garnett delivered a blunt assessment of Victor Wembanyama’s emotional reaction after the San Antonio Spurs’ Game 7 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has now weighed in on the 2008 NBA champion and 15-time All-Star’s foul-mouthed rant.
Stephen A. Smith Reacts to Kevin Garnett’s Rant Over Victor Wembanyama
After the Spurs reached the NBA Finals, Wembanyama got visibly emotional. The Spurs superstar broke down in tears after his team downed the reigning champions in a thrilling Western Conference Finals series.
Garnett took issue with Wembanyama’s emotional reaction and criticized him on his “KG Certified” podcast. Smith responded to the comments on Thursday’s edition of “First Take.”
The ESPN analyst said he enjoyed listening to Garnett discuss basketball and did not necessarily disagree with his comments about Wembanyama, but warned the former Boston Celtics forward that he needed to “watch his mouth.”
“Kevin Garnett has to watch his mouth. We need to listen to this man talk basketball. Kevin Garnett is special. I wish he was here with us right now. But the language, that’s the problem. That’s the only problem. Because when he breaks it down and gives you real talk on basketball, Kevin Garnett is must-watch. I love him. But his mouth, the language,” Smith said.
Stephen A Smith says Kevin Garnett needs to watch his mouth/language when he talks basketball:
“Kevin Garnett has to watch his mouth. We need to listen to this man talk basketball. Kevin Garnett is special. I wish he was here with us right now… but the language, that’s the… https://t.co/NVI3BD4sAi pic.twitter.com/HBQaca8wXc
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) June 4, 2026
It is worth noting that Smith has been involved in long-standing beefs with several basketball players, including his ongoing feud with Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown.
Meanwhile, Garnett’s comments came in the wake of San Antonio’s Game 7 win over the Thunder in the Western Conference Finals. The win marked an emotional milestone for the franchise after years of rebuilding, and Wembanyama led the celebrations after accomplishing a lifelong dream of reaching the NBA Finals.
“He’s crying in the motherf**kin’ Western Conference finals. That was too emotional for me. Man, he got four more games to try to get. You’ve got to go through the Finals now. Nah, you’ve still gotta be even-keeled right here,” Garnett said about Wembanyama’s emotional reaction after winning the Western Conference Finals.
The Spurs players still showed signs of fatigue after their grueling series against the Thunder on Wednesday as they lost Game 1 of the NBA Finals to the New York Knicks. Wembanyama scored 26 points and grabbed 12 rebounds, but couldn’t help his side overcome Jalen Brunson and co.
Game 2 will take place on Friday (tip-off at 8:30 p.m. ET), and the Spurs will be keen to level the series before it heads to New York.
