The John Wall-Stephen A. Smith Beef Re-ignites as Both Trade Shots after Smith Questions Wall’s Heel Surgery

If you think the John Wall-Stephen A. Smith beef has quiet down, you thought wrong. Smith’s questionable comments geared at Wall last week as news broke the six-time All-Star was planning to have surgery on his bothersome left heel has re-ignited the beef and pushed it to a personal level.

Smith insinuated that Wall opted for the surgery because he feared he was not going to make the All-Star team this season.

Oh Hell No! I do not want to hear this about John Wall. Look, I’m not about to question the legitimacy of his left heel injury. Hell, I won’t even question that it might be best he have season-ending surgery. But where was this when he dropped 40 on the Lakers? Why now….

— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) December 30, 2018

But I’m hoping for more than that. I’m hoping this brother returns IN SHAPE, ready to validate that $170 mil he’s about to get over the next 4 seasons……instead of leaving us wondering if he’s calling it a season because he ain’t about to make an All-Star team…

— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) December 30, 2018

Speaking to the media, Wall fired back at Smith’s unwanted criticism.

“When people say ‘you’re just shutting down because you’re not going to be an All-Star,’ that has nothing to do with it for me at all,” Wall said of Smith per Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington.

Wall didn’t say Smith’s name but he added “You know who the guy is” referencing the outspoken ESPN personality that appears to have an issue geared at Wall.

“It’s like this, if you have a personal problem with me, come talk to me like a man, Wall said per Hughes. “If you want to talk about me as a basketball player, that’s fine. I’m cool with that. I can take that criticism. That’s what comes with being that guy.

“But when you want to take things to a personal level, you can have a conversation with me 1-on-1 as a man. If you don’t like me, you just don’t like me. I’m fine with that. I might not like you, neither. It’s cool.”

Certainly Smith couldn’t back down from a challenge, replying to Hughes’ tweets saying he waited for Wall when he was in D.C. to watch the Wizards-Celtics game.

Hey @ChaseHughesNBCS, just saw your tweet regarding @JohnWall. Quote this: I don’t want to hear a damn thing from Wall about talking to him man-to-man. I showed at one game and waited for him in the locker room; he wouldn’t come out. I showed up again when they played @celtics— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) December 31, 2018

So the next time @JohnWall or any player tells you they are looking for me for a man to-man convo, @ChaseHughesNBCS, tell them to name the time and place and I’ll show up. I’d welcome it…even on my damn vacation. I’m not the one hiding. Never have! Never will!— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) December 31, 2018

Wall didn’t go quiet, as he fired back disputing Smith’s claims that Wall avoided him.

Lol bra I walked passed me wit ur head down afta I got my x ray for my foot afta Boston game…stop cappin bra u know me…IDC who u know from my camp, stop hidin…Seem like u got a personal problem wit me not bout basketball

— John Wall (@JohnWall) January 1, 2019

Through the misspelled words Wall said that Smith held his head down when Wall finished getting his foot x-rayed after the Celtics game. Wall told him to “stop hiding” and that he speculates Smith’s target towards him is personal beyond basketball.

What a way to close out 2018, right?

Wall will undergo the heel surgery in Green Bay, Wisconsin next week. He will rehab in DC, hoping to be around the Wizards as much as possible.

Meanwhile, it’s safe assumption that Wall’s tweet won’t be the last we hear surrounding this beef that has become concerning because Smith’s motives appear lost through his numerous tirades aimed at Wall.