The 2025 NBA Finals Game 4 between the Pacers and Thunder was neck and neck every single quarter. Every single moment felt nerve-wracking.
For Pacers fans, the pressure was even higher. Since the start of the Finals, they’ve been treated as the underdogs. Meanwhile, Thunder fans were feeling the tension too, despite having the best defense this season.
But what surprised fans was Stephen A. Smith. Even while sitting courtside as part of the live audience, he appeared unusually relaxed. In fact, he wasn’t even watching the game. He was simply playing Solitaire on his phone.
Mockery to Criticism: Stephen A. Smith Gets All for Ignoring NBA Finals Game 4
Being a sports analyst, no one expected Smith to spend his time like this during an NBA Finals game. A nearby fan captured him in the act and posted a photo online. In the picture, Smith is clearly seen playing the game, Solitaire, on his phone while the Finals were still going on.
How can you have all of these opinions while you’re playing solitaire instead of watching the game @stephenasmith? pic.twitter.com/fqjnQLOHXU
— Kimberly (@BleedBlue1986) June 14, 2025
We can’t say exactly when the photo was taken, but it didn’t seem like halftime. That’s because a few Pacers fans in front of him were standing up with tense faces, clearly caught up in the action.
Many fans found it funny, some were confused, and a few felt frustrated. This unexpected moment caught everyone’s attention and started a lively conversation online.
One user, clearly in disbelief, asked, “Hahaha is this real??” while another tried to give Smith the benefit of the doubt, suggesting, “Probably was halftime.” But that theory didn’t hold up for long. A fan sitting just in front of Smith posted a photo of his own, writing, “I’m sitting right in front of him this isn’t during a timeout. It’s during the game 😭.”
Probably was halftime
— E Pharoah the Swag Gawd (@efarrell5050) June 14, 2025
The backlash grew louder as more fans weighed in. One user wrote, “No way ESPN pays him 100 million and he playing Solitaire.” Another added, “So he’s allowed to talk sh*t about Haliburton but he’s not even watching the game,” calling out the irony of Smith’s on-air critiques of Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton.
No way ESPN pays him 100 million and he playing solitaire pic.twitter.com/GSzHWDzKkp
— CELTICS ☘️ BANNER 19 (@BiggLynch) June 14, 2025
And then some simply leaned into the comedy of it all. “How many millions did ESPN pay SAS to cover this game 💀😂?” joked one fan.
How many millions did ESPN pay SAS to cover this game💀😂 pic.twitter.com/RHzI6EGlbE
— NetsKingdom 👑🗽 (@NetsKingdomAJ) June 14, 2025
Now, thanks to other fan recordings, it’s clear that he was playing during the game and not during a timeout. While it may be a harmless moment, it has already turned into an unexpected sideshow of the Finals. All that remains now is the ESPN analyst’s response.
