DeMarcus Cousins Challenges ESPN Analysts to Celebrity All-Star Game

Former NBA star calls out Stephen A. Smith and Brian Windhorst after Shams Charania's struggles on the court.

Feb. 19, 2026 at 5:15am

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After watching ESPN insider Shams Charania struggle in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, former NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins issued a playful challenge to two of the biggest voices in basketball media, Stephen A. Smith and Brian Windhorst, to suit up and prove their athletic abilities on the court.

Why it matters

The moment highlighted the unique tension between players and media figures who break news, analyze performance, and critique careers. Cousins wants to see if the talking heads can back up their critiques with on-court skills.

The details

During the annual All-Star Celebrity Game, Shams Charania, an ESPN insider, had a rough outing, finishing with 0 points, 0 rebounds, 0 assists, and 3 turnovers. Before the game, Giannis Antetokounmpo had joked that Charania "cannot hoop." After the game, a viral clip showed Charania realizing his night had ended, locking eyes with Giannis as he headed to the bench.

  • The NBA All-Star Celebrity Game took place during the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend.
  • Cousins issued his challenge during an appearance on the "Run It Back" podcast on February 17, 2026.

The players

DeMarcus Cousins

A former NBA All-Star who played for several teams, including the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors.

Shams Charania

An ESPN insider who covers the NBA and participated in the 2026 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.

Stephen A. Smith

A prominent ESPN analyst and commentator who is known for his outspoken opinions on NBA players and teams.

Brian Windhorst

An ESPN reporter who has covered the NBA for many years, particularly focusing on LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

A two-time NBA MVP who played in the 2026 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game.

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What they’re saying

“We should have a guy like Brian Windhorst in a 12X jersey, out there showing us what type of athlete he is. I think that would be great for TV.”

— DeMarcus Cousins, Former NBA All-Star

“You know, why it's not fair? Because we have Shams on my team. He cannot hoop! But everybody else can hoop.”

— Giannis Antetokounmpo, Two-time NBA MVP

What’s next

It remains to be seen if Stephen A. Smith or Brian Windhorst will accept Cousins' challenge to participate in a future NBA All-Star Celebrity Game and prove their athletic abilities.

The takeaway

Cousins' challenge highlights the ongoing tension between players and media figures who critique their performance, as he wants to see if the talking heads can back up their analysis with on-court skills.