America needs a vacation from Stephen A. Smith

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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.

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