There is a major update about Stephen A. Smith. ESPN announced significant changes to its NBA Countdown team on Monday. One of the most notable changes was that Stephen A. Smith would no longer be featured in the show.
Smith has been one of ESPN’s most iconic figures, covering the league for over 20 years. In the meantime, he also established himself as one of the most prominent faces of morning sports talk shows, especially ESPN’s “First Take.”
The new NBA Countdown team will feature Malika Andrews as the host, former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone, Kendrick Perkins, and senior ESPN analyst Brian Windhorst. The new team will make its debut on Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 6:30 PM ET.
Fans online, however, had hilarious reactions to Smith being removed from the panel. Some even opined that the show might see an improvement in its quality now that Smith won’t feature in it anymore.
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One fan said,
“That might make the show watchable.”
Another fan added,
“Good job ESPN 👏.”
This fan said,
“Stephen A. Smith fatigue is real.”
Former NBA star Austin Rivers said,
“Now maybe add some former hoopers…..”
This fan said,
“Just as when LeBron is about to play his first game.”
Another fan said,
“Everyone loved this man Until he started speaking on things he didn’t need to.”
This fan wrote,
“for a second there I waa wistfully thinking he was removed entirely- damn – so close!”
Another fan wrote,
“About time ESPN, now maybe I’ll go back watching NBA.”
Although it is unclear why ESPN made this particular move, that does not mean that Stephen A. Smith is entirely removed from ESPN’s programming. He will continue to host “First Take” and also make regular appearances on ESPN’s other shows, including “SportsCenter.”
Why Did ESPN Remove Stephen A. Smith From NBA Countdown?
Stephen A. Smith had recently signed a five-year extension with ESPN. But now, the question that arises is, why would ESPN remove Smith from one of its most popular shows? The reason could be to manage Smith’s workload. Perhaps, this outcome is something both parties must have agreed upon.
As per Andrew Marchand of The Athletic, Smith will remain the host of “First Take” but will no longer be a regular on ESPN’s main NBA pregame show, though one can’t rule out occasional appearances. Smith’s new deal with ESPN is worth $20 million.
Firing is simply an unfeasible option, given how ESPN’s entire coverage of the NBA has been centred around Smith for the past two decades. However, this could have been a possible decision, given that ESPN is also syndicating “Inside the NBA” and adding more depth to its studio.
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