Ahead of Game 1 of the 2026 NBA Finals between the San Antonio Spurs and New York Knicks, Gary Payton beckoned over ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith and immediately put him on his heels.
The Hall of Fame point guard jokingly demanded to know why the sports media personality had been ignoring him.
Why Gary Payton Confronted Stephen A. Smith Before Game 1 of the NBA Finals
The pregame interaction began with a hilarious but direct interrogation from Payton, leaving the usually boisterous broadcaster Smith searching for answers.
Stepping right into Smith’s personal space, Payton demanded accountability with a pointed question.
“Ay Stephen, Ay Steve, listen here, man,” Payton said. “I’mma tell you one time. You don’t like me or something? I ain’t do nothing. Did I do something? You don’t talk to me or nothing.”
Smith tried to brush it off and hit back, exclaiming, “I don’t see you!”
Payton wasn’t buying the weak deflection. Gesturing at the device in Smith’s hand, he said, “They make phones, right? You got that thing in your hand right there in your hand, right? What’s up, blood?”
Smith immediately retreated with a promise. “I’m calling you tomorrow. You know I got love for you. Always. The Glove. Always,” he said.
Inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2013, Payton earned that famous moniker by locking down the greatest scorers of his generation. He played 17 seasons in the NBA, earning nine All-Defensive First Team selections and a championship with the Miami Heat in 2006.
Their lighthearted interaction ahead of the Knicks-Spurs matchup was a stark contrast to the intensity New York brought to the court hours later, as they bullied the Spurs 105-95 to steal home-court advantage in the championship series.
After taking an early lead, San Antonio failed to maintain its composure and struggled to establish any offensive flow against the physical New York front.
Victor Wembanyama finished with 26 points and 12 rebounds. While the numbers look solid on paper, the efficiency was a whole other story, as he shot 6-of-21 from the floor.
The supporting cast failed to pick up the slack when the defense collapsed on their franchise player, who had 6 turnovers in his tally for the night.
De’Aaron Fox went completely cold in his Finals debut for San Antonio, managing 7 points on 3-of-13 shooting in 38 minutes of action.
For the Knicks, it was Jalen Brunson who led the offensive charge with a game-high 30 points. Karl-Anthony Towns provided crucial support in the frontcourt with 18 points and 12 rebounds.
Game 2 tips off Friday night at the Frost Bank Center, and San Antonio is under pressure to avoid dropping the first two games before heading into the hostile environment of Madison Square Garden.
