"The NBA Will Be Better Off Without Stephen A. Smith" - Jon Lewis

[desjardins]

I first heard of SAS in the early 2000s when he was a local beat writer in Philly. His claim to fame back then was defending AI, who at the time was constantly getting shat on by racist shockjock Howard Eskin. To see SAS basically transform into the negative shockjock he made his bones battling is crazy, and on top of it he's become arguably the most successful/famous version of that.

 

[Joe Sixpack]

I first heard of SAS in the early 2000s when he was a local beat writer in Philly. His claim to fame back then was defending AI, who at the time was constantly getting shat on by racist shockjock Howard Eskin. To see SAS basically transform into the negative shockjock he made his bones battling is crazy, and on top of it he's become arguably the most successful/famous version of that.

He was on the The Best Damn Sports Show Period then went to CNNSI, then to ESPN where he became the most annoying goofball in the history of television

 

[Morose Polymath]

If "Die a Hero or Live long enough to become a Villain" was a person.

 

[Dem313wayz]

Are people actually watching first take. You go to any Fridays Applebee's or any restaurant on your lunch break and first take is on TV at the bar but nobody is watching.

That alone will inflate numbers but nobody is watching

 

[TheNig]

Who said i liked him? Im indifferent. I mostly listen to NBA Radio on Sirius for my NBA coverage. Crazy thing is, the host of the highest rated show on that channel, Justin Termine, goes on hot take rants and shyts on callers too. So apparently this is exactly what people want.

The reason ESPN keeps pushing him out there more and more is because they have the numbers, and he is driving them. So whether you want to admit it or not, people are tuning in because of him.

Are you telling me that Stephen A is getting the numbers because everyone hates him so much they watch to spite him and ESPN?

I'm with you on this one. I don't care enough to let any of these dudes opinions hold any kinda weight with me. It's like you said, all that will happen is we'll listen to someone else's hot take.

I don't like Nick Wright because he comes across like he didn't start watching basketball until Jordan was with the Wizards or when LeBron joined the Heat. But he has an opinion and people like listening to him.

That's just the way it is.

 

[JesusFOREVER]

Adam Silver only cares about money- he’s monetized every aspect of the game and will continue to do so- Stephen a brings ratings and engagement which equals money and silver doesn’t care if it comes at the expense of how his product is viewed- just look at how cheap the coverage of the NBA Finals was this year? Those hats were literally made in 5 minutes in the locker room- that man has no integrity as the commissioner and that’s how it will be for the forseeable future- everyone keeps blaming the finger at everyone but noseferatu for why the game is on a decline

 

[aceboon]

That tweet has zero likes. I 100% agree with the article but it's the tree falling in the woods. First Take is still bringing in ratings and SAS can still go viral with ease so he's not going anywhere.

Didn't he just get a raise?

that was a tweet by a random dude with 500 followers, he didn't write it and doesn't work for the platform

 

[Supa]

that was a tweet by a random dude with 500 followers, he didn't write it and doesn't work for the platform

643 likes

 

[Marlow Stanfield]

I, for one, cannot wait for NBA on NBC to obliterate any and all NBA on ESPN coverage next season

Like... I don't think it will be close, even with Inside.

 

[Ku$h Parker]

Breh has came a long way from being a Press Sec for Iverson

 

[FlyRy]

He's an entertainer. And never forget what the "E" in ESPN stands for.

SAS knows EXACTLY what he's doing.

Nobody likes him

 

[aceboon]

643 likes

it could have 1M likes, social media constantly shyts on SAS(he's getting killed for his presence on NBA draft coverage last night) but it won't matter as long as Dave Roberts is in charge at ESPN

 

[Supa]

it could have 1M likes, social media constantly shyts on SAS(he's getting killed for his presence on NBA draft coverage last night) but it won't matter as long as Dave Roberts is in charge at ESPN

Social media and real life aren't aligned. Ratings matter not what randoms say on X.

 

[Cool Dr. Money]

He isn’t going anywhere anytime soon the proof is when FT goes on the road and fans show up to sit in the audience and he’s into politics now so he’s gonna have another group of people who hate/love him

 

[Joe Sixpack]

Social media and real life aren't aligned. Ratings matter not what randoms say on X.

ESPN is a fukkin MONOLITH

They are a machine on auto pilot even with the stupid shyt they keep doing

People watch it cause they love sports not BECAUSE OF STEPHEN A

That is the miscalculation that they made by giving a clown like that that contract