Celtics guard Jaylen Brown challenges ESPN's Stephen A Smith to a debate at Harvard or MIT

Dan Dakich defends Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown as his explosive beef with Stephen A. Smith reaches a boiling point. After Brown slammed the "face of clickbait media" and told him to retire, Stephen A. FIRED BACK!

Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown has challenged ESPN talking head Stephen A. Smith to a live debate. Yes, this is an actual headline in 2026.

At first, the feud between Brown and Smith was pretty funny. The two took jabs at one another across various media platforms, including television, X (formerly Twitter), and Twitch.

Celtics star Jaylen Brown and ESPN's Stephen A. Smith continue their public feud. (Imagn Images)

It seemed a little fake, given Smith's propensity for getting into beefs with famous NBA players. The feuds often feel performative, but seem to drive public attention to Smith. He's previously quarreled with LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Russell Westbrook and Draymond Green.

CELTICS STAR JAYLEN BROWN TEARS INTO ESPN'S STEPHEN A SMITH AS FEUD ESCALATES: 'FACE OF CLICKBAIT MEDIA'

This one started because Smith appeared on ESPN's "First Take" and criticized Brown for calling the 2025-26 season his "favorite" even though the Celtics lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Philadelphia 76ers. Not only did they lose, but the second-seeded Celtics blew a 3-1 series lead against the seventh-seeded 76ers.

Brown fired back, Smith fired back, Brown fired back, Smith fired back, and on and on it went.

For those who thought it was over, you are very wrong. Brown decided to throw down one final challenge. On a recent Twitch stream, Brown brought up his feud with Smith, again.

"Listen, I'm not even really focused on Stephen A.," Brown said, according to Celtics Wire. "I'm really focused