ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith gave his thoughts on Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr’s contract expiring this summer. However, he made a crucial mistake in his commentary, and the NBA world roasted him.
NBA World Calls Out Stephen A. Smith for Incorrect Comments on Warriors
The Phoenix Suns eliminated the Golden State Warriors in the play-in tournament on April 17. Smith spoke about Golden State’s disappointing season on ESPN’s “First Take” this morning. He gave his thoughts on head coach Kerr’s remarkable run in Golden State, but did so with incorrect information.
“They [Warriors] haven’t been back to the playoffs since that championship in 2022. That’s four years away from the playoffs. You can pay guys a lot less than $17 million a year to miss the playoffs, we understand that. But there’s no question that [Kerr] knows what he’s doing,” said Smith.
Smith’s claim about Golden State’s supposed “playoff drought” falls apart with even the slightest knowledge of the NBA or a simple Google search.
The Warriors qualified for the playoffs in 2023 before falling to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Semifinals. Just last year, Golden State not only made the playoffs but actually won a series, before they were ultimately eliminated by the Minnesota Timberwolves in five games in the semifinals. Smith clearly failed to fact-check himself before going on the air this morning.
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The NBA world had a field day with this mistake. Lakers writer Karin Abcarians did not hold back in her criticism.
“Genuinely wild that thee ESPN continues to employ someone who doesn’t watch a single second of what they get paid to talk about,” she wrote.
Former media member Dallas Jones commented, “And he wonders why he doesn’t get respect from athletes. This show is such a joke.”
And he wonders why he doesn’t get respect from athletes.
This show is such a joke. https://t.co/j9SZqjnvoX
— Dallas Jones (@DallasJonesy) April 20, 2026
Greg Rajan of the Houston Chronicle sarcastically reminded Smith that Golden State beat the Houston Rockets in the 2025 playoffs: “Weird. Wonder which team that was that beat the Rockets in Game 7 last year.”
Sportswriter Lance Roberson acknowledged Smith’s massive blunder. He was completely shocked that nobody immediately corrected the analyst on the air. “No one corrected this mistake in real time? YIKES.”
@nikotaughtyou on X even went as far as to say, “He doesn’t watch the sport lmao.”
They’ve been to the playoffs 2/4 years since then
He doesn’t watch the sport lmao https://t.co/kgtk2tAjUR
— Niko (@nikotaughtyou) April 20, 2026
One influencer had the same opinion, commenting, “Are we sure this guy even watches NBA basketball?”
Jason Maples, associate coach of Contra Costa College men’s basketball, cannot believe people regularly tune in to watch Smith.
“I find it amazing that people still watch this stuff,” he wrote.
Smith will be under a microscope for the rest of the 2026 NBA playoffs. Viewers are clearly ready to pounce on his next massive blunder.
