On Tuesday, many individuals were buzzing about viral headlines and rumors suggesting that ESPN removed Stephen A. Smith from its “NBA Countdown” programs. However, Smith has since addressed the buzz, calling it a “non-story” and shutting down earlier reports that he was “yanked” from the show after appearing on for over six years.
He led his “Straight Shooter with Stephen A. Smith” video on Tuesday by referencing a New York Post report he saw earlier about “ESPN making changes” involving him and “his role with ‘NBA Countdown’.” He summarized that the report mentioned he is no longer doing that particular show with ESPN.
“I’m trying to figure out what the news is here,” he said before mentioning his contract negotiation with ESPN last year that began in June and “ended this year in March, going into April.”
Smith specified that he decided he didn’t want to do “NBA Countdown” anymore, and that was the decision made with ESPN then. While he indicated he enjoyed participating in that show, he said that after an episode ended, he still had many other things he wanted to do.
“I didn’t want to be stuck in the studio until after midnight,” Smith said, adding, “No shade against ESPN. No shade against my colleagues.”
“Malika Andrews is an exceptional host. Working with my man Big Perk is something I always wanna do. Brian Windhorst is absolutely fabulous. Shams Charania is great. Mike Malone, former coach of the Denver Nuggets, I think he’s gonna do an outstanding job,” Smith noted, adding, “But in case you haven’t noticed, I got other things on my plate.”
Smith referenced some of his newer obligations on his schedule, including his “Stephen A. Smith” SiriusXM Radio show daily on Mad Dog Radio, his “Straight Shooter with Stephen A. Smith“, and his political show on SiriusXM.
“So just to be clear, I’m always available, because once you’re working with ESPN, they’re part of the family and you’re part of the family,” he said, adding, “And if they need me, of course I’ll show up for ‘NBA Countdown.'”
Smith said there are dates in his contract that allow him to appear on ESPN’s NBA programs, but he negotiated it so he wouldn’t appear regularly.
“Just to be clear, this story is a non-story. This is not some epiphany that everybody is getting attached to that, ‘Oh my God, this just happened, and he’s been yanked off the show.’ No, it didn’t happen like that. I’m available when needed,” he stated.
“NBA Countdown” typically airs as a pregame show before ESPN and ABC presentations of various NBA games. Smith began appearing on the programs in 2019.
In addition to indicating he would potentially appear on “NBA Countdown,” Smith also said he could appear on “Inside the NBA,” which ESPN now presents with Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal, and Ernie Johnson, if necessary.
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