Doug Gottlieb calls Stephen A. Smith a 'scrub' while defending Steve Kerr not playing Jayson Tatum

ESPN analyst Stephen A Smith was called out by FOX Sports radio host Doug Gottlieb via social media on Monday for his take on Jayson Tatum not playing in Sunday’s Olympic matchup against Serbia.

Smith went on a rant about the decision from Team USA coach Steve Kerr, calling it “some straight bullsh*t” that did not see the floor. That led to a rather intense response from Gottlieb, who began by attacking Smith’s own skills as a basketball player to make an argument for the opposite side.

“Well, Stephen A was a scrub so maybe he would want to go in the last 5 min… but at this level, you don’t put Tatum in at SAS time,” Gottlieb wrote. “I’ve actually coached FIBA hoops w/12 guys that can play, could only get 10 in real games… and scrub time would just piss everyone off.”

Well, Stephen A was a scrub so maybe he would want to go in the last 5 min… but at this level, you don’t put Tatum in at SAS time. I’ve actually coached FIBA hoops w/12 guys that can play, could only get 10 in real games… and scrub time would just piss everyone off https://t.co/DK6VjhgG7S

— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) July 29, 2024

It’s no secret that Stephen A. Smith used to play basketball as well as no secret that he was not particularly good either. He averaged just 1.5 points per game at Division II Winston-Salem State.

The talking head’s hoops past has been brought up several times before, including by some of his own colleagues at ESPN. The Inside the NBA duo of Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley have also trolled him over his past as a player, and now Gottlieb joins the list.

Gottlieb did not play in the NBA but at least had a more successful college basketball career than Smith. He averaged 5.1 points and 7.6 assists across four years, one with Notre Dame and three with Oklahoma State.

Tatum, who recently guided the Boston Celtics to an NBA Championship this past season, was one of two players along with Tyrese Haliburton who did not play Sunday. The USA coasted to a 110-84 victory behind a combined 44 points from Kevin Durant and LeBron James.

Even Tatum’s teammate on the Celtics, Derrick White, saw 16 minutes of playing time off the bench despite being an alternate addition to the roster after Kawhi Leonard withdrew due to injury. That led to a lot of chatter from fans questioning why.

Kerr addressed the decision not to play Tatum, saying he “felt like an idiot” and intends to play him in the next game.

“[Jayson Tatum] handled it well,” Kerr said Sunday. “I talked to him today before the game, that it may play out this way just with Kevin [Durant] coming back… I felt like an idiot not playing him… [In] a 40-minute game, you can’t play more than 10. You really can’t. I think he’s an amazing guy. Great player. And handled it beautifully. You know, he’ll be back out there next game.”

Team USA is next scheduled to play South Sudan at 3 p.m. ET on Wednesday.