The Denver Nuggets made plenty of basketball experts and daytime talk show hosts look foolish on Tuesday night as they completed a comeback from a 3-1 series deficit against the heavily favored Clippers and knocked the superstar duo of Kawhi Leonard and Paul George out of the playoffs.
Leonard’s performance in the playoffs last year was nothing short of legendary as he led the Raptors to a title, but the two-time Finals MVP was awful in Game 7 against the Nuggets. Leonard and George combined for just 24 points, and were held scoreless in the fourth quarter.
ESPN First Take host Stephen A. Smith warned Max Kellerman – who has been in Kawhi’s corner for years – that he was going to erupt on air, and Smith didn’t disappoint.
I’ve specifically stayed off the grid this morning JUST to save everything ounce of energy I have for @FirstTake . I’ll tell you this though: @maxkellerman has never been in more trouble than he is today. Get your popcorn ready. I’m already out of the control.
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) September 16, 2020
Stephen A., while casually eating cheese puffs and sipping on tea on air, eviscerated Kellerman for his years of support for Leonard as the best player in the world.
“Your little soliloquy right there shows why when it comes to the sport of basketball you should be banned from talking about the sport. Your take was embarrassing! After all of this noise that you have made all of these years about Kawhi Leonard… you come on national television, I give you the top of the show….. I gave you the floor, and your response to the American public after the drivel you have subjected us all to for the last several years was ‘whoops, I blew it.’ That’s the best you can do?!”
Smith went as far as to play an old clip of Kellerman arguing that Leonard is better than Kobe Bryant was. Viewers lost it.
Stephen A just ripped Max Kellerman to shreds 😳 pic.twitter.com/R1hWCPO8VQ
— ContentNBA (@ContentNBA) September 16, 2020
Stephen A probably didn’t even sleep last night. I know he laid his suit out like it was the first day of school 😂
— Justin Tinsley (@JustinTinsley) September 16, 2020
Stephen A eating cheese doodles this morning while Max is tryna defend himself is everything we need right now pic.twitter.com/Xi8xJlI99P
— Tim Jasper (@ItsTimmah) September 16, 2020
Stephen A Smith & Shannon Sharpe Today pic.twitter.com/HGyEYAEQPm
— DJ First Class™ 🏁 (@1DJFirstClass) September 16, 2020
Stephen a Smith just said max Kellerman should be banned from giving basketball takes pic.twitter.com/8XXfjcGKNz
— John (@iam_johnw) September 16, 2020
Stephen a going in on max.
Shannon clownin skip pic.twitter.com/oJMlDa7OYY— Jimito 💯 (@osoniice) September 16, 2020
