Stephen A Smith fires back at Jaylen Brown after Celtics star called him the 'face of clickbait media'

Brown referred to Smith as a "clown" as well, but the veteran sports pundit took time on Monday's edition of "First Take" to address those comments in a long rant of his own.

"I'm not going to disrespect Jaylen Brown," Smith said. "…He's pointing the finger in the wrong direction. Point it at yourself, bro."

"Did he just say I needed to be quiet? Be quiet for who?" Brown said Sunday night. "Man, f--- Stephen A. Stephen A, Stephen B, Stephen C. My offer still stands. You want me to be quiet and stop streaming, well, I want you to be quiet and get off these networks because you're not using your platform to do real journalism. You're using your platform to use clickbait."

Smith doubled down on his previous comment, though, in Monday's monologue.

"The Boston Celtics, the most storied franchise in basketball annals, 18 [championships]. You helped deliver one of them just two years ago. Two years later, y'all surrender a 3-1 lead for the first time in its history, in franchise history, with you driving the bus. And 24 hours after you didn't go to the basket in the final two minutes, after y'all launched three-point shots on six separate occasions and missed every one of them. [In] 24 hours after that was over, you went on camera as a representative for the Boston Celtics and called it your favorite season. A season where Jayson Tatum was on the bench for 60 games, a season that ended with you losing a 3-1 lead, a season that ended with you getting bounced in the First Round. You went on and said that was your favorite season."

Smith ended his rant with a warning for Brown.

"In the end, Jaylen Brown, be careful what you wish for," he said. "You really want me to start reporting on that level? You understand? Locker room, how the organization might feel about you, how the city might feel about you, how Jayson Tatum may or may not feel about you. Sneaker deals, endorsement deals, the list goes on and on.

"The season is over, bro. You're on Twitch trying to do what I do, and me needing to step away. It makes no sense. I'm not being disrespectful. I'm simply making the point it is not wise after 24 hours of having your season over in the First Round for you to be coming out talking about how that's your favorite season. It ain't the smartest thing in the world to do."

Smith also prefaced his statement by saying how he's been on Brown's side throughout the season, as well as in the past. He brought up his philanthropy within his community and explained how much he respected Brown.

Boston ended up earning the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference after going 56-26, but they couldn't finish against Philadelphia, ultimately setting unfortunate franchise history in the process.