ESPN recently announced its lineup for this season’s “NBA Countdown.” Malika Andrews will lead the show, joined by former Nuggets head coach Mike Malone, Brian Windhorst, Shams Charania, and Kendrick Perkins. However, one notable absence is Stephen A. Smith, who was not mentioned as part of the lineup.
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Stephen A. Smith has been a regular on the show since its days as “NBA Shootaround.” His removal comes as a surprise, especially since he signed an extension last summer. However, this change is not a demotion or a firing; instead, it reflects a planned reduction in his participation. According to Awful Announcing, upon signing his new contract, it was anticipated that Smith’s role would decrease.
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Andrew Marchand from The Athletic noted in March that “Smith will not be a regular on ESPN’s premier NBA pregame show anymore, though he could still make occasional appearances on top basketball studio programs, as well as the Monday Night Football pregame show or during other major events.”
Thus, this is not a case of ESPN firing Stephen A. Smith. Instead, the network is working with its most prominent analyst to establish a new balance. Smith remains a key figure at ESPN, continuing to lead “First Take,” where he debates with former basketball players and other analysts.
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Feb 16, 2024; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Team Stephen A coach Stephen A. Smith looks on against Team Shannon during the All Star Celebrity Game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
But as part of signing his new contract with ESPN, was outlining his plans for the future. Stephen A. Smith wanted to diversify from more than just covering sports. He wants to speak about politics, already partnering with Sirius XM to begin expanding himself. He could still appear on NBA Countdown alongside the star-studded cast.
However, he won’t be a regular like he was for the past two decades.
Stephen A. Smith eyes the White House?
At first, many didn’t welcome the notion of Stephen A. Smith speaking about the political landscape. He came from a background of being a sports analyst. However, he’s abolished those boundaries. With a weekly show, ‘Straight Shooter’ on SiriusXM, Smith has proven he has the knowledge to speak politics with anybody.
However, his ambitions could go beyond it. Notably, in April, Smith spoke about many high-profile individuals asking him to run for the office. His response? “I’ve never had a desire to be a politician,” he said.
But his stance changed a little bit once his pastor encouraged being open-minded.
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“Here’s the reality: People, literally people, have walked up to me, including my own pastor, for crying out loud, who has said to me, ‘You don’t know what God has planned for you. At least show the respect to the people who believe in you, who believe in you, who respect you, who believe that you can make a difference in this country, to leave the door open for any possibilities some two to three years down the line.’ And that’s what I’ve decided to do,” Smith added.
It’s a huge jump of responsibilities. Being the President of the United States requires undivided attention. That could mean leaving ESPN and focusing entirely on pushing his campaign. Of course, it’s too early to assume that Stephen A. Smith will divulge in that direction. However, it’s not entirely out of comprehension to think he would look to do so in the future.
What are your opinions on Stephen A. Smith running for office? Let us know your views in the comments below.
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Ved Vaze