It’s no secret that Stephen A. Smith isn’t exactly a favorite in Gil’s Arena. The ESPN veteran has clashed with former players like Jaylen Brown, sparking a heated back-and-forth. After throwing down a challenge to Gil’s Arena, Smith doubled down on his willingness to appear on the show, saying he’d make time to join. But what no one expected was Gilbert Arena’s surprising reaction. Instead of the usual criticism, Arenas offered rare praise for Smith, hinting that maybe the ESPN star has finally struck the right chord.

On a recent episode of Gil’s Arena, host Joshua played a Stephen A. Smith clip that got Arenas talking. “You know what the best part is… you do gotta give credit,” Arenas acknowledged. He went on to explain that Smith, unlike Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and other analysts, has shown an ability to adapt to the ever-changing media landscape. “Yeah, the new style of content,” Arenas added. “If you ain’t ready for it, you can get steamrolled.” With nearly three decades as a sports journalist, Smith’s ability to adjust to new trends is earning him respect where it was least expected.

Interestingly, this comes just a week after Arenas had called out Smith and other top analysts, including Skip Bayless. In a passionate rant, Arenas criticized them for judging athletes’ legacies without fully understanding the games. “So, you’re judging everybody’s legacy on something you have no idea about,” Arenas said, adding that he’d trust a die-hard fan over an analyst any day. His issue? Many of these analysts don’t watch every game from start to finish.

Kendrick Perkins echoed this sentiment a few months ago, taking shots at the Inside the NBA crew, especially Shaquille O’Neal, and Charles Barkley for their lack of attention to teams like the Knicks during the regular season. Arenas agreed, calling out Shaq and Barkley for not watching games thoroughly. “I can’t trust your opinion,” Perkins said, highlighting the importance of seeing the entire game to form a proper analysis.

While Gilbert Arenas and his crew have a history of calling out media figures, and Stephen A. Smith has just found himself in the crosshairs, but, unlike others, Smith seems ready to face the fire. All eyes are now on what could be a high-profile face-off between Smith and the Gil’s Arena team, with fans eagerly awaiting what’s next.

Gil’s Arena’s ‘Cemetary Larry’ act for Smith

It all started when Smith made a bold comment about Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown, claiming an anonymous source told him Brown isn’t the marketable figure the franchise hopes for. While Smith couldn’t reveal his source, respecting journalistic boundaries, the comment didn’t sit well with everyone. Brown understood Smith’s limitations, but the statement caught the attention of Gilbert Arenas and his team, sparking a back-and-forth exchange that’s only gotten more intense.

Arenas didn’t hold back during his podcast. He questioned the credibility of journalists like Adrian Wojnarowski, who rely on sources to break stories. Arenas said, “They’ve never done it themselves,” implying that analysts lack the personal experience that players bring to the table. In a twist, Smith accepted the challenge to appear on Gil’s Arena, and the team humorously agreed to have him. “I will definitely keep my word,” Smith promised, leaving us wondering when this showdown will happen.

Things took a wild turn when Rashad McCants, a regular on Arenas’ show, added fuel to the fire. Just before a new episode of Gil’s Arena aired, McCants shared a clip of Smith with a clown filter, captioned, “Hi, I’m Larry! I own a cemetery.” It was a bold move, signaling that Smith won’t be getting an easy pass when he finally steps into their space.

But McCants weren’t done. He doubled down, saying the studio security would let Smith walk in whenever he’s ready. With the stakes rising, this is shaping up to be a must-watch event, as both sides seem more than willing to take it to the next level.