Forget the NBA Cup. This is the mid-season clash of the titanic Smiths in Vegas we want to see. On one side is an NBA veteran with two rings and two creaky knees. On the other side is a guy who hooped 33 years ago. In the middle is Charles Barkley. Being the betting man he is, he’s picking the guy with more money. (Treachery, thy name is Chuck.) The stage is set for the Duel in the Dust between TNT’s Kenny “The Jet” Smith and ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. The trash talk has gone back and forth on X, First Take, and Inside the NBA. Call your bookers. Time to hedge some bets.

Across some inter-network exchanges, they’ve decided on a free throw shootout on Saturday, December 14. Our big-talking competitors will get five free throws each. And Kenny Smith is willing to give Stephen A. a handicap by shooting left-handed.

TNT did Kenny dirty with the duel promos by selecting the most lazy-eyed picture. The picture had Charles Barkley in uproar, demanding at Kenny, “Yo man, What’s wrong with your eyes!… That’s what your eyes gonna look in Vegas Saturday?”

Kenny’s lazy eye demolished Chuck’s confidence in him and the TNT analyst picked his future ESPN colleague. “Stephen A. I got your back brother. I’m betting on Stephen. Smith,” he said right to Kenny’s face. Looks like we know who’s going on season 2 of The Traitors. 

Elsewhere, Chuck was accusing ‘Lazy Eye Jones’ Kenny of being disrespectful by giving SAS that insulting handicap. But he also has no faith in Kenny being “amphibious” (it’s ambidextrous, Chuck) i.e. being able to shoot with his left hand three decades after retiring and that’s why he’s betting on Stephen A. Smith.

Chuck shouldn’t alienate Kenny. He’s got another thing coming.

The gloves are off in TNT vs ESPN

The ESPN guys have received the challenge and responded. Stephen A. Smith was righteously offended that the Jet thinks he’s too good for a shootaround with the former college player. He’s all up for it, ready to silence Kenny for good.

And then there’s the Shaqtin a Fool namesake and the segment’s favorite subject. Shaquille O’Neal and Kendrick Perkins both proposed 1v1 with each TNT and ESPN talking head. Perk sincerely wants to go up against Chuck. Perhaps someone is still bitter about the “You averaged five points a game, shut the hell up” from months ago.

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Smith called them his “brothers” on First Take who always rib him. They’re going to be colleagues soon as Inside the NBA will be licensed to ESPN from the 2025 season. And Smith is also likely to stay at ESPN as he’s close to signing a $20 million-a-year contract extension. Since the news of the contract, Chuck wants to stay on SAS’ good side.

Yesterday, Sir Charles had a robust response to Kenny saying he’s too good to shoot with SAS. “I’m not here for Stephen A. slander! That dude just got all that money!” And insert a very polite hint from Chuck here, “Stephen A. I need some money. Congrats, brother!” Makes you wonder what money Chuckster’s betting.

Also, note that whoever Barkley bets on ends up losing. So this could be TNT’s underhanded scheme too. Which Smith Chuck makes money off of shall be seen on Saturday.