Stephen A. Smith faces backlash after Warriors blunder on ESPN First Take

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Stephen A. Smith has long been a divisive figure among NBA fans, with his outspoken style often drawing strong reactions.

That reputation was evident last weekend when he was booed during an appearance at WrestleMania 42.

Against that backdrop, any mistake becomes amplified. That proved to be the case on Monday, when Smith made an incorrect claim while discussing the Golden State Warriors.

Stephen A. Smith makes incorrect Warriors claim on ESPN First Take

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While appearing on the ESPN First Take show, Smith criticised the Warriors’ recent trajectory as they were eliminated by the Phoenix Suns in the play-in this season.

In that context, he suggested Steve Kerr’s side had not returned to the playoffs since their 2022 championship run.

He said: “There’s a four-time champion who has been on NBA Finals in six years. Now, they haven’t been back to the playoffs since that championship in 2022. That’s four years away from the playoffs.”

The statement is incorrect. Golden State did reach the playoffs after their title-winning campaign, including a run last season, when they defeated the Houston Rockets in the first round in a 4-3 series before falling to the 4-1 in the conference semi-finals.