There are numerous big names when it comes to NBA analysts. But one of the veterans is none other than Stephen A. Smith. His controversial and scathing takes not only bring in huge viewership but also tend to rub fans the wrong way at times. So, how does Smith deal with the negativity when he’s not in front of the camera?

Stephen A. Smith’s opinions and preferences have amassed him a net worth near $20 million. But when it comes to dealing with hecklers in public, Smith has something else entirely up his sleeve to avoid confrontations.

How does Stephen A. Smith deal with hecklers?

Recently, the ESPN analyst made an appearance on Paul George’s podcast. While on Podcast P With Paul George, Smith talked about multiple topics and gave his honest opinions regarding them.

While talking to the hosts, the topic of the role of Brick portrayed by Smith in General Hospital came up. And that is when Smith shared a story about how he dealt with hecklers who wanted to argue semantics about what he had said while talking about basketball.

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Smith said, “You could come up to me and I’m good. I don’t like signing autographs, I’d rather take pictures. Take the pictures and keep it moving, that kind of thing. I’m not debating for free, right? You’re not getting that from me.”

“You don’t roll up on me in the supermarket or roll up on me in a restaurant. I remember, God bless them. I had to stand up and literally hug this 70-75-year-old white man that came up to me; ‘I don’t like what you said about the Knicks’. I said stop right there. I said, I don’t debate for free, don’t even try it.”

The other side of Smith

Stephen A. Smith might have a home run deterrent with this whenever he had to deal with people like this. However, Smith went on to describe how that elderly man was seemingly disappointed as he walked back to his table.

Smith walked over to his table and said, “Sir, it’s not personal. I just don’t want to do it because if I do it with you, I got to do it with everybody. You know what I’m saying? Don’t take that personally. It’s alright. Took a picture with him, everything was good.”

So, even though Smith may have been hard on that person initially, he made sure to smooth things over by giving him an actual explanation.

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While he’s known in the basketball world as an instigator of debates, it’s always nice to see a mellower and milder side of Stephen A. Smith.