The world was watching. It was Game 7 of the NBA Finals, Indiana Pacers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder—a matchup few had predicted but one that had captured the imagination of basketball fans everywhere. The stakes were enormous, the tension palpable, and for Tyrese Haliburton, it was the culmination of a lifelong dream. He had fought through pain and adversity to get here, vowing after a rough Game 5 that, “If I can walk, then I want to play.”
But with 4:55 left in the first quarter, disaster struck. Haliburton, who had already scored nine points and was leading his team with confidence, crumpled to the floor on a drive to the basket. There was no contact, only the unmistakable agony of a non-contact Achilles injury. He slapped the court in frustration, the arena fell silent, and his teammates gathered around in disbelief. On the broadcast, sideline reporter Salters relayed Pacers center Myles Turner’s heartbreak: “It’s unfortunate, but we got his back.”
As news of the injury spread, social media exploded. Among the first to react was ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, whose tweet echoed the collective shock: “Oh damn, Tyrese Haliburton is down. Tyrese Haliburton is down. Oh damn. None of us wants to see this. We don’t want the title decided this way, especially the way he was playing. Oh damn.”
But as the game continued and the Pacers struggled without their star, the conversation began to shift. Not just about Haliburton’s absence, but about the way sports media personalities were reacting—especially Stephen A. Smith and Fox Sports’ Skip Bayless.
Skip Bayless Stirs the Pot
Skip Bayless, never one to shy away from controversy, tweeted: “The Pacers brilliantly took the big game pressure off Haliburton—who routinely no-shows—by planting the injury excuse that the media swallowed whole.”
It was a typically provocative take from Bayless, suggesting that the Pacers were already preparing to shield Haliburton from criticism in case of a poor performance. Fans were quick to pounce, accusing Bayless of insensitivity and of undermining a young star’s pain on the biggest stage of his career.
Stephen A. Smith’s Viral Slip
But it was Stephen A. Smith’s live, on-air reaction that truly ignited the firestorm. During the halftime show, as analysts recapped the shocking events of the first quarter, Smith attempted to explain Haliburton’s struggles and the impact of his injury. In a moment that would soon go viral, he said:
“Haliburton’s looked off for it—I’m glad he’s injured—I’m, I’m not saying I’m glad he’s injured, but I’m glad we got that as a rationale…”
The clip was played and replayed across social media, and the outrage was immediate. Did Stephen A. Smith just say he was glad Tyrese Haliburton was injured? The phrase, even as Smith tried to walk it back in real time, struck a nerve. Fans, players, and fellow broadcasters weighed in, many expressing disbelief that someone with Smith’s platform and influence could so carelessly phrase his thoughts.
The Fallout
Within minutes, “Stephen A. Smith” was trending on Twitter. Sports blogs, podcasts, and YouTube reaction channels dissected his words frame by frame. Some tried to defend him, arguing that Smith’s intention was to say he was glad there was a clear explanation for Haliburton’s poor play—not that he was actually happy the young star was hurt. Others insisted that, regardless of intent, Smith’s words were unacceptable.
“If another player had said something like that, Stephen A. would be the first to call them out,” one user commented. “He should be held to the same standard.”
Meanwhile, Skip Bayless doubled down on his earlier tweet during his own show the next morning, suggesting that “the media is too soft on Haliburton” and that “injuries are part of the game, not an excuse.” The two most polarizing voices in sports media had, perhaps unintentionally, shifted the conversation from Haliburton’s health and the Pacers’ heartbreak to a debate about media ethics and empathy.
Haliburton’s Courage and the Human Cost
Lost amid the noise was the human element. Haliburton, just 24 years old, had been the heart and soul of the Pacers’ playoff run. His post-Game 5 comments revealed the mindset of a player willing to push through pain for his team and his dream. “It’s the finals, man. I’ve worked my whole life to be here. I want to be out there to compete, help my teammates any way I can,” he had said. Now, his dream season had ended not with a championship, but with a devastating injury and a long road to recovery.
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, speaking after the game, was visibly emotional. “Tyrese gave us everything he had. He’s the kind of player and person you want representing your franchise. Our hearts break for him.”
A Teachable Moment for Sports Media
As the dust settled, both Stephen A. Smith and Skip Bayless faced calls to clarify or apologize for their comments. Smith, to his credit, addressed the controversy on his next show. “I want to make it absolutely clear—I would never celebrate an injury. My words were clumsy, and I apologize to Tyrese Haliburton and his family. What I meant was, sometimes when a player is struggling, there’s a reason behind it. But I got caught up in the moment, and I regret how it came out.”
Bayless, unsurprisingly, stood by his take, insisting that “tough questions and tough commentary are part of the job.”
The episode sparked a broader conversation about the responsibility of sports commentators—especially those with massive platforms—to choose their words carefully, to remember the humanity behind the headlines, and to understand the impact their reactions can have on fans and players alike.
The Game Moves On
As the final buzzer sounded, the Thunder celebrated their first NBA championship, while the Pacers and their fans were left to wonder what might have been if Haliburton had stayed healthy. Across the sports world, the debate raged on: about injuries, about empathy, about the line between honest commentary and callousness.
But for Tyrese Haliburton, the journey was just beginning—a comeback story waiting to be written, and a reminder that behind every headline and hot take is a real person, living out their dream on the world’s biggest stage.
In the end, the controversy over Stephen A. Smith’s words became a mirror for the sports community—forcing everyone to ask, not just what we say in the heat of the moment, but how we honor the athletes who risk everything for greatness.
