Tag: Stephen A. Smith

Stephen A. Smith on The Ringer ranking LeBron James 12th on list of best NBA players

Stephen A. Smith seems to think The Ringer ranking LeBron James as only the 12th best player in the NBA is blasphemous.

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The Ringer recently came out with its ranking of the top 125 players in the NBA, and the list starts with selections most can agree on.

Nikola Jokic, the newly minted NBA Finals MVP and leader of the world champion Denver Nuggets, is on top of the list. Right behind him is Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant and Joel Embiid in that order.

Then the list becomes debatable.

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James came in at No. 12, despite averaging 28.9 points, 8.3 rebounds and 6.8 assists a game this past season. Ahead of him are Jayson Tatum, Jimmy Butler, Devin Booker and the oft-injured Kawhi Leonard.

ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith let his displeasure over James’ low ranking be known.

James may not have the same athleticism or explosiveness he used to have, and he’s certainly not the best player in the world anymore. But he has to be, at a minimum, considered one of the 10 best players in the game today.

This Stephen A. Smith impression from NFL reporter Kimberly Martin was so good it made Ryan Clark cackle

This Stephen A. Smith impression is so good.

Not only is Stephen A. Smith one of the most recognizable talents in the sports media industry, but he also has one of the most distinct voices out there, too.

You know a Stephen A. take when you hear one. You can’t mistake it for anything else. Whenever you read a quote coming from Stephen A., you read it in his voice. That’s how recognizable he is. It’s hard to mimic that.

RELATED: Shannon Sharpe’s popcorn response to Stephen A. Smith had Twitter buzzing.

Don’t tell that to ESPN’s Kimberly Martin, though. She seems to have the Stephen A. Smith impression down to a science.

In an appearance on First Take, Martin, Smith and Ryan Clark were debating who would potentially win the NFC in the 2023-24 NFL season. Smith picked the Eagles, which is more than reasonable. But he was also very certain that it’d be the Eagles as if the rest of the field wasn’t good enough.

Martin wasn’t here for it. And while she was making her case for the rest of the conference, she busted out this incredible Stephen A. Smith impression that made Ryan Clark audibly cackle in the background of the show.

“Had [the 49ers] not lost all of their quarterbacks, had Josh Johnson in the end, we don’t know how that whole playoff situation would’ve ended. You would still sit up here to fix your face and say ‘Oh, the Eagles are far and away head and shoulders above everybody else’? 

“She sounded just like him,” Ryan Clark said, saying exactly what the rest of us were thinking at home.

This was gold. Amazing work from Martin there. Ten out of 10. Keep these three together forever.

Shannon Sharpe’s popcorn emoji response to Stephen A. Smith on Twitter has everyone buzzing

Could Sharpe join Smith on ESPN’s First Take? Is that what he’s implying?

We’re all talking about who could replace Shannon Sharpe on Undisputed after the Hall of Famer left the FS1 show with Skip Bayless, but there’s also buzz on where Sharpe could go next.

Could it be FanDuelTV? Or could he, like everyone wants, join ESPN’s First Take for an epic daily showdown with Stephen A. Smith?

MORE: Ranking 6 Shannon Sharpe replacements to debate Skip Bayless

Front Office Sports reported there have been talks about him becoming a “contributor” to ESPN so he could be in the rotation. And maybe Sharpe is leaning into that with his latest tweet, a response to Smith — who was quote-tweeting the Sharpe report — that has a bunch of popcorn emojis in it:

HMMM. WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

Stephen A. Smith had the most meme-worthy reaction to Ja Morant suspension: ‘Nobody believes you, bro’

This reaction is sure to become a meme.

Well this is going to be seen all over Twitter for the next … oh, I don’t know, year or so.

Ja Morant was suspended 25 games in the 2023-24 season on Friday after a second incident involving a gun, this time in which he wielded one on Instagram Live. The Memphis Grizzlies guard released a statement after the news broke, talking about how he apologized to “the NBA, the Grizzlies, my teammates and the city of Memphis,” among many others.

Apparently, Stephen A. Smith got to look at it on Friday’s First Take, and his reaction is sure to be a meme: “Nobody believes you, bro. Nobody believes you.”

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Why Stephen A. Smith doesn’t see James Harden rejoining Rockets

Stephen A. Smith on James Harden: “The #Rockets might be willing to give him a two-year deal, but they ain’t willing to give him four years, particularly at max dollars.”

Longtime ESPN media personality Stephen A. Smith has important connections throughout the NBA, including with the Houston Rockets and especially owner Tilman Fertitta.

While his opinions on shows such as “First Take” are often polarizing, the underlying sourced information is often credible, based on the relationships he’s cultivated over decades in the business.

So it could be noteworthy that Smith isn’t as optimistic as many others in the media regarding the potential of a reunion between the Rockets and James Harden in 2023 free agency.

In comments made Monday morning, Smith said:

I don’t believe he’s going back. I don’t even believe he wants to go back. He just wants his money.

You’re thinking, if there’s one organization that will give you the money, it’ll be them. I would say to you, ‘That ain’t gonna happen.’

Because after watching him in this postseason, they might be willing to give him a two-year deal, but they ain’t willing to give him a four-year deal, particularly at max dollars. Because of that, I really don’t see that happening.

Smith’s extended commentary on where the relationship between the Rockets and Harden stands can be viewed below.

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Stephen A. Smith on Sooners success: ‘I want to know what’s in the water in Oklahoma’

Stephen A. Smith on Oklahoma Softball: “…all I can say to all the young ladies out there, anybody that wants to learn how to play softball in a winning way, clearly the place to visit is Oklahoma University.”

Oklahoma softball has been on a remarkable run over the last three years en route to three consecutive national championships. On the way to becoming the second program in the history of NCAA softball to three-peat, the Oklahoma Sooners became must-see television.

They didn’t just win games, they did it in a way that left no doubt who the best team in softball was. They scored 500 runs for the third straight season, becoming the first program to reach the 500-run mark in three consecutive years.

It has been an incredible run that even caught the eye of Stephen A. Smith, an analyst for ESPN, who acknowledged Oklahoma’s greatness on his show “First Take.”

I want an investigation into this program. Obviously, I’m being very facetious in giving them mad mad credit and love. Let me explain to America something that’s going on here. I want to know what’s in the water in Oklahoma. Something. Not only have they won three consecutive national championships, they are 56-4, 59-3 and 61-1. Have a 53-game winning streak this past season. Over the last three years, that is 176-8. The year before that. They were 20-4 before the pandemic canceled the season. OK. And previously, they had won two of the three previous championships before that. Oh, no, what the (expletive) is going on here? This level of domination? I mean, we think about UCLA with John Wooden. You think about, you know, you think about that. You think about the Boston Celtics, 60s and 70s. The level of domination going on in Oklahoma at the University of Oklahoma with this softball team is unreal. So congratulations to them. It is something special, and all I can say to all the young ladies out there, anybody that wants to learn how to play softball in a winning way, clearly the place to visit is Oklahoma University. — Stephen A. Smith on ESPN’s First Take

Oklahoma’s run of success over the last decade is as impressive as any. Not only at the collegiate level but also at the professional level. It’s a run that rivals the New England Patriots and the Alabama Crimson Tide in football over the last two decades.

Patty Gasso’s led Oklahoma to a level of success that rivals that of legendary women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma and the UConn Huskies. From 2008-2009 through the 2015-2016 season, the Huskies won six national titles in eight seasons.  

Our Jaron Spor wrote Friday about the impact Patty Gasso has had on the sport of softball. Stephen A. Smith’s recognition of the Sooners’ run is further evidence of how much the sport has grown during Oklahoma’s back-to-back-to-back championship stretch.

While some may bemoan the dominant nature of Oklahoma softball, their success has led to tremendous growth of the sport.

Some may dislike the idea of one dominant team, it creates fascinating storylines that make for incredible theater each time they take the stage. Whether you’re for them or against them, people tune in to see what’s going to happen.

Oklahoma softball sells.

They sell out home stadium, set records at away stadiums and generate incredible ratings.

Love them or hate them, they’re great for the sport. When someone as prominent as Stephen A. Smith takes the time on his daily show to talk about their greatness, that not only builds up Oklahoma but it helps the sport grow.

As we’ve seen recently, exposure has helped both softball and women’s basketball reach new heights in popularity over the last few years. And as the Oklahoma Sooners completed their three-peat, the sport of softball continues to reach higher heights.

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J.J. Redick hilariously proved Stephen A. Smith wrong for claiming Nikola Jokic has no post game

“That’s not his game.” Uh, no, it actually is.

At this rate, if the Denver Nuggets can finish off the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals, Nikola Jokic will likely earn his first career Finals MVP Award. The superstar Denver center has simply been that good this series and in this entire postseason, dropping masterpiece after masterpiece.

Part of Jokic’s dominance comes from what is essentially a picture-perfect and efficient post game that seemingly no defense — not even the Heat’s well-coached unit — can stop.

But while discussing all-time NBA centers on Thursday’s episode of ESPN’s First Take, Stephen A. Smith shared a truly awful opinion on Jokic. He claimed that the two-time regular-season MVP isn’t known for being dominant in the post. Um … alright?

This assessment drew the ire of J.J. Redick, who not only had an incredulous reaction but immediately tore apart Smith’s baseless analysis of one of the best big men of all time:

Phew. That is quite a way to rebut an opinion that seemingly manifested from thin air. There are some poor offensive plays in NBA basketball. Getting Jokic working in the post isn’t one of them. Jokic in the post might even be the most automatic points in the league and why the Nuggets could win the franchise’s first title.

I’m not sure why Smith would ever profess otherwise, but Redick got him good.

Stephen A. Smith gives his thoughts on Sixers hiring Nick Nurse

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith gives his thoughts on the Philadelphia 76ers hiring Nick Nurse as head coach.

With the Philadelphia 76ers hiring Nick Nurse as their new head coach, they enter a new era. Doc Rivers had a great deal of success during his time in Philadelphia, but three consecutive second round exits from the playoffs sealed his fate.

Nurse brings innovative thinking the Sixers hope will enable them to take that next step in the East. He is a proven coach. He has championship experience. And he has a history of maximizing the talent on his roster and putting it in position to succeed.

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith gave his thoughts on the Nurse hire for Philadelphia:

I don’t think it’s the wrong coach. Nick Nurse is a champion. He’s proven that even though I thought he benefited tremendously so from the fact that his first year coaching the Toronto Raptors, they had Kawhi Leonard and, obviously, LeBron James is outside of the Eastern Conference, but nevertheless, a championship is a championship. You can’t take that away from the man. The man knows how to coach. I don’t think this affects Joel Embiid in a negative way. James Harden is a different animal because you’re going in there, how are you going to utilize James Harden? The reality is, is that what are you going to do? Are you gonna send them away? Are you going to keep them? I think that’s more of a Daryl Morey question than a Nick Nurse question. Nick Nurse has shown an ability to work with some talent that are lesser caliber than James Harden, but is it going to be enough for you to come out of the Eastern Conference with Boston still in the mix. With the Milwaukee Bucks still in the mix. With the Miami Heat still around, I think that’s a huge question mark right now did the Sixers have to modify their roster to some degree but obviously, I don’t think Nick Nurse is the wrong decision.

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The Sixers are going from a Doc to a Nurse and it will be interesting to see how they grow off this. Nurse will undoubtedly have a big impact on this roster, but how far the Sixers go will depend on how the players respond to his unique style of coaching.

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J.J. Redick took a personal jab at Stephen A. Smith’s college career and ended up apologizing

Did Redick cross the line?

While the days of Stephen A. Smith shouting at Skip Bayless for three hours on ESPN are long gone, ESPN continues to embrace Smith’s role in First Take‘s manufactured debate. As of late, former NBA player J.J. Redick has been a regular co-host alongside Smith. But even for Redick, he found that he can get carried away with the show’s desire for conflict.

That certainly happened during Tuesday’s discussion about a possible LeBron James retirement.

After Redick tried to rationalize LeBron’s comments from Monday’s Game 4 elimination, Smith essentially brushed away Redick’s remarks and called it nonsense. That led to Redick getting personal about Smith’s brief college basketball career.

Smith clearly didn’t appreciate Redick going with the “you didn’t play” card for a sports argument as you can understand a game without being able to physically perform it at a world-class level. Whether there was tension or something said off camera, we don’t know. But Redick felt the need to apologize to Smith for crossing that line and getting personal.

Fans also had thoughts on the whole exchange.

Stephen A. Smith to LeBron James: ‘Stop shooting the three!’

ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith was dismayed at LeBron James’ overreliance on, and ineffectiveness at, the 3-point shot in Game 2 vs. the Nuggets.

The Los Angeles Lakers appeared to have Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals in hand, as they took an 11-point lead in both the second and third quarters.

But they gave up most of that lead by the fourth quarter, as well as a 15-1 run to the Denver Nuggets, leading to a 108-103 loss and a 2-0 series deficit.

One major reason the Lakers lost was LeBron James, who missed all six 3-pointers he attempted, with three of those misses coming in the fourth quarter when he kept settling for such shots. His inability to knock down a trey prevented L.A. from asserting itself enough down the stretch to come up with a victory.

ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith had a direct and succinct message for James: stop falling in love with the 3-pointer (h/t The Cold Wire).

“Showing your muscles every chance you get — use ’em! Stop shooting the three! Stay off the three! Please.”

James played 40 minutes in Thursday’s loss and did not sit out at all in the fourth quarter, and some have surmised that his bad shot selection was due to fatigue.

He has been attacking the basket more often and more effectively in the last few games, and he will need to stick to that mode of operation for the Lakers to make this series competitive.

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