The NBA is a very competitive league. There are thousands of aspiring basketball players in the United States, and even more in the world. Apparently, only one percent of collegiate athletes make the jump into the uppermost echelon of the game. A certain ESPN journalist was part of the 99% that didn’t make the jump. Fans and the media are now scrutinizing his recently discovered college basketball stat line. 1-percenters Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley have frequently come after the 55-year-old in the past too.

The man under fire is one of the highest-paid sports television personalities, admired by fans for his unapologetic takes. It’s hard to imagine him out on the court but as it turns out, he recently gave us a glimpse of what was he like as a ball player in college.

Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley rip ESPN commentator

There’s been a meme going viral on the internet which depicts a horrendous college basketball stat line. Of course, it’s of the famed ESPN commentator. The 55-year-old was averaging around 1.5 points per game in college. He was ridiculed on the internet for the disgusting scoreline. As it turns out he revealed that the score line posted on social media is not correct.

Let’s see what the man, Stephen A. Smith, had to say about these rumors.

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Smith immediately came to his own rescue. “I was good enough to get a basketball scholarship. I was good enough to get my education paid for. They lying talking about I averaged one and a half points a game.”

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He added, “That’s a lie. It was less. It was less. How about zero?” 

Stephen A. realized that he might not make it as a ball player so being in the television world and having a career in media helped him stay connected to basketball.

Smith has been working in the media industry for almost two decades and has become a household name in the industry. Stephen A. might have come clean about his stat line out of fear of Shaq and Barkley’s unpleasantness.

Smith berated by Shaq and Chuck

The 55-year-old journalist once was brutally mocked for his fading hairline by the duo of Big Diesel and Charles Barkley.

Shaquille O’Neal and Sir Charles jokingly compared the hairlines of Stephen A. Smith and Boston Celtics players Derrick White. Chuck jokingly said, “Stephen A. play for the Celtics!”

Stephen A replied on Twitter, “Imma get y’all @SHAQ and Charles! And I KNOW you aren’t talking@Foxworth24!!“

WATCH THIS STORY: Shaquille O’Neal showcases a massive lineup.