Stephen A. Smith rolls eyes at Max Kellerman reference interrupting ‘First Take’

Stephen A. Smith has proudly admitted to booting Max Kellerman off First Take, and he doesn’t appear to appreciate anyone trying to bring him back.

Friday morning on ESPN’s First Take, Jay Williams claimed that Indiana Pacers All-Star Tyrese Haliburton “is spitting in the face of the narratives.” Williams cited narratives about Haliburton’s superstar status, his being overrated, or playing injured. Some of those narratives have notably come from Stephen A. Smith.

Smith, however, didn’t react much to Williams implying Haliburton is spitting at his narratives, but he did react when Williams cited Max Kellerman while making his point.

“I will also say this,” Williams began. “When it comes down to the wire, Max Kellerman used to have this line, ‘If the death beam was focused on the earth and it’s the Martians against the U.S.,’ If the NBA Finals…comes down to the wire, with the body of work, I trust Tyrese Haliburton in those moments more than I trust SGA. That’s how I feel about it! I’ve seen it!”

After Smith broke up with Kellerman, citing a lack of chemistry, nearly three years ago, his former ESPN co-host hasn’t been mentioned much on First Take. And as soon as Williams named Kellerman Friday morning, Smith appeared to roll his eyes with a bit of a huff before uttering, “right” with a dismissive tone. Maybe Smith’s apparent displeasure stemmed from hearing Kellerman’s name, or perhaps it stemmed from having to hear Kellerman’s ‘Martians vs the Earth’ analogy again.

Williams’ take on Haliburton vs. Shai Gilgeous Alexander, although not nearly as provocative, was a sort of ode to Kellerman, famously claiming he would take Andre Iguodala over Steph Curry if one basket was needed to stop the Martians from pointing their death beam at Earth.

Smith rolled his eyes at Kellerman’s take six years ago, and he rolled his eyes again at Williams referencing the take Friday morning.