‘Shut the hell up’: Stephen A. Smith blows up over Josh Giddey speculation

Outspoken NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith has blasted the Josh Giddey situation as the speculation runs wild on social media.

Stephen A. Smith has unloaded on the rumour mill surrounding Josh Giddey. Photo: Getty Images and YouTube

Outspoken NBA commentator Stephen A. Smith has hit out at his followers for demanding he take a stance on the Josh Giddey situation.

The NBA is looking into allegations levelled at the 21-year-old Australian basketball star that he had an inappropriate relationship with a minor.

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The allegations first arose via an anonymous social media post last Thursday, which has since been deleted.

NBA spokesman Mike Bass confirmed in a comment to news.com.au over the weekend that the league was investigating the matter.

“We are looking into it,” Bass said.

However, it hasn’t stopped social media from running with the story.

Josh Giddey playing for OKC. Photo by Joshua Gateley/Getty Images

But speaking on his The Stephen A. Smith Show, Smith took aim at the rumour mill.

“Let me say this to all y’all out there who have been clamouring for me to touch on this subject — y’all are getting on my last damn nerves,” Smith said.

“Could you try to be responsible? Could you try? That’s all I’m asking. What do you want Stephen A. to say? ‘Where you at Stephen A. If this was a brother …’

“Wait a minute — if it were a brother I would have treated it with the same level of sensitivity.

“This man Josh Giddey is currently being investigated by the National Basketball Association — the NBA — over allegations that he was having a relationship with a minor.

“We don’t know who she was, we don’t know how old she was — he’s 21, we don’t know how old she is. We don’t know anything. We know there is an investigation going on.

“That is all we know. We don’t know anything else.

“You know why Stephen A hasn’t said anything? Because you could get sued, idiots.

“You don’t just go out there running your damn mouth over something this serious. A fight that went on on a basketball court? Sure.

“But this clamouring to comment on something with no information, no definitive facts — you can’t do it.

“You can do it on social media with your troll a** selves. You can do it then because you don’t have any real accountability.

Stephen A. Smith has called out the rumour mill. Photo: YouTube

“You have to wait and see. We don’t have all the information. We don’t even have the specific allegations, in terms of its depth.

“Again, we don’t know how old she is. When you say a minor, what do you mean? We don’t know.

“There’s a whole bunch of things going on. I don’t know, I have no clue.

“If I had a clue, I would have spoken on it, but I don’t and it’s why I haven’t said anything.

“My advice to you all is to shut the hell up and do the same.

“The investigation’s ongoing. We’re going to find out something. When we find out more information, we’ll speak on it.

“When Josh Giddey was asked, he said he couldn’t comment on it.”

Giddey was questioned by media about the allegations before the match against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday morning Australian time.

“I understand the question obviously, but there’s no further comment right now,” Giddey said at the time.

When asked about the matter again, Giddey said: “I get the question guys. I completely understand you guys wanna know about it. But just for right now, I don’t have anything to say.”

Smith continued: “There comes a time when prudence and responsible dialogue has to take place. This is one of those times. We’re allegedly dealing with a minor. We don’t know — we’ll find out.”

The Boomers star is currently in the third year of a four-year $41m rookie contract with the Thunder, but could command significantly more in his next contract given his performances to date in the NBA.

The allegations against Giddey emerged when pictures and videos were posted to social media featuring the Australian with a young woman.

One of the images shared on social media.

Another image on social media.

One of the images is of a shirtless Giddey standing behind the woman.

There are videos which feature Giddey supposedly talking to the young woman’s brother, in which he says: “I’m here with your beautiful sister.

“Good luck for your season. I hear you’re going to Sacramento soon for a game so best of luck. We’re going to come up and watch you take care of business.”

In another video, where she appears to be standing in the background outside a nightclub, Giddey says: “What’s up my man? We’re at the front of the club, me and my girl, about to head back to mine.”

The legal age to attend a nightclub in the United States is 21.

Along with his NBA achievements, Giddey represented Australia at the 2023 FIBA World Cup and looms as a key figure for the Boomers at next year’s Paris Olympics.

Boomers coach Brian Goorjian was asked about the situation on Monday and stated Giddey has his “full support”.

Oklahoma City has not stood Giddey down after the emergence of the images and video, with the guard playing in last Sunday’s home loss to the Sixers.

The Thunder’s next match is on the road against Minnesota on Wednesday Australian time.

Originally published as ‘Shut the hell up’: Stephen A. Smith blows up over Josh Giddey speculation