America desperately needs a break from the never-ending noise. It’s been way too many years of one crisis after another, one more feud, one more rant, one more upheaval to our daily lives. And the stress of living under this regime has gotten to us all. While you could apply this to the man currently occupying the White House, we’re talking about Stephen A. Smith.
Quite frankly, America is exhausted.
What we need is a break, a timeout, a conscious uncoupling if you will — if only for a brief period of time, so we can collect ourselves and rest and recover before we enter the trenches once again.
Stephen A. Smith has been a ubiquitous presence for a long time, but it has reached overdrive in 2025. The man is everywhere, and his presence is only growing. He now has a hand in ESPN’s daytime programming, SiriusXM radio, podcasting, politics, and acting.
However, it seems that SAS is especially empowered now that he is ESPN’s $100 million man, and he simultaneously has the freedom and power to pursue any other venture he wants. And that’s a compliment to his work ethic. No man in sports, media, politics, entertainment, or any other industry probably works longer hours than Stephen A. The man just doesn’t stop.
And that’s part of the problem.
It’s one thing if you’re a fan of Stephen A. Smith or find his antics entertaining. Maybe you enjoy the viral clips of his rants on social media and can tolerate it in small doses. But there’s a difference in going out and finding his podcast, his political opinions, or even daytime ESPN viewing on First Take. If you are a sports fan, you can largely stay out of the blast radius every time his head explodes.
However, it’s quite different when it takes center stage at major sporting events. Then you just can’t escape.
Smith’s presence during the NBA Finals was a net negative for ESPN. NBA Countdown became a personal playground for SAS and Kendrick Perkins to bring their First Take routine to primetime, and the backlash was relentless. The pregame show for Game 7 in particular was blasted as being “unwatchable” because of their act, and fans were clamoring to be saved by Inside the NBA, although that won’t come until next year.
It didn’t help matters that Smith was caught playing solitaire during live NBA Finals gameplay, as if he was bored by the entire thing. Maybe he was too busy thinking about his interview with one of his favorite political figures in Candace Owens.
The same was true for Wednesday night’s NBA Draft coverage. Although ESPN at least gave viewers multiple options to choose from, Smith again dominated the proceedings with the same act on ABC.
Truthfully, there was no need for ESPN to put Stephen A. Smith on NBA Draft coverage except for the sole reason that ESPN has to feel like it needs to justify his mammoth salary, because it’s really doing a disservice to both basketball fans and Smith himself.
Let’s be honest, how many games did Smith watch of Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper at Rutgers? How familiar is he with VJ Edgecombe from Baylor? What can he tell us about why the Blazers loved Yang Hansen and why it was a surprise to see him drafted so highly?
“I know nothing about this pick whatsoever other than what Kevin Negandhi has told the world, I’m going to lean on you,” Smith said about the shock of the night. He then went to analyze the Grizzlies’ situation, even though the pick was going to be traded to the Portland Trail Blazers.
This is what $100 million gets you?!? In this economy?!? Can we not get him a lifeline from Fran Fraschilla?
Smith doesn’t have the insight to be able to analyze anything at the NBA Draft. And how could he? No human being working his schedule could have the depth of knowledge needed to offer anything of value. Compare this to the NFL, where you have someone in Mel Kiper Jr. whose entire life is built around analyzing the draft prospects and process.
Putting Stephen A. out there on draft night shows just how little depth and substance there is to his schtick. And that’s totally fine! This is 2025 after all. ESPN has gone in the direction of star power because that is what sells in today’s world. And ESPN will probably tell you that the ABC broadcast isn’t about the Xs and Os, it’s an alternative personality-driven show. (If that’s the case, sitting Stephen A. next to Bob Myers, the one person on staff in Bristol best equipped to talk about front offices building championship winners, is a weird mix.)
ESPN isn’t paying SAS $100 million because of his acumen on international NBA Draft prospects. ESPN is paying SAS $100 million due to his bombastic personality, his transformation of First Take into a juggernaut, and because he is one of the most uniquely talented individuals in sports or entertainment. Maybe that’s why it seems like he has outgrown sports altogether as he pursues all these other interests instead of watching tape on Noa Essengue.
But there are actually sports fans out there who care about sports. And there is a big disconnect when Smith shows up for actual sporting events and is expected to carry a broadcast away from the debate table or a podcast microphone.
As we look to the fall, Stephen A. has made it no secret that he wants to be part of Monday Night Football next season. And with his new contract, he will probably get it. So rest up for the rest of this summer, America. Relax by the beach. Go for a mountain hike. Get away and unplug. You’re going to need it.