NBA fans couldn’t contain their excitement on Tuesday when ESPN announced that Stephen A. Smith would no longer be a part of the “NBA Countdown” crew.
As per the network, the new panel would include former Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone, Boston Celtics legend Kendrick Perkins, NBA insider Brian Windhorst and host Malika Andrews, with Shams Charania making regular appearances.
When the news dropped, fans thought that Smith had been axed from the panel. Several fans and analysts on social media posted celebratory messages. One account shared the popular Vince Carter GIF from his Raptors jersey retirement ceremony.
One fan wondered whether the season debut of Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, who has a contentious relationship with Smith, influenced ESPN’s decision.
Stephen A. Smith Sets Record Straight
The ESPN analyst revealed it was his own decision to leave “NBA Countdown,” a show he had been a part of since 2003, when it was called “NBA Shootaround.”
“I’m trying to figure out what the news is here,” Smith said on SiriusXM’s “Straight Shooter,” via Awful Announcing.
“I had a contract negotiation last year that started in June and ended in March, going into April. It was decided at that particular moment in time that I wouldn’t be doing NBA Countdown anymore because I didn’t want to.”
Smith further explained his reasons to leave ESPN’s flagship NBA studio show.
“I loved doing the show, but after the show is over, I got a whole bunch of other stuff that I gotta do and I didn’t want to be stuck in studio until midnight. No shade against ESPN, no shade against my wonderful colleagues.”
Decision to Quit NBA Countdown
Smith, who is reportedly earning nearly $40 million per year from his gigs with ESPN, SiriusXM and YouTube, further explained his decision to leave “NBA Countdown.”
“In case you haven’t noticed, I got other things on my plate,” Smith said.
“I’m a busy man. Just to be clear, I’m always available because once you’re working for ESPN, you’re part of the family. And if they need me for anything, of course I’ll show back up on NBA Countdown. If they need me a few dates a year, sure. If they need me to be with the crew with Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith and Shaq and Ernie, fine.
“But it was always my intent to come off, it’s something I negotiated,” Smith insisted. “So, just so we’re 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 being yanked off the show!’ No, it didn’t happen like that, I’m available when needed. And when I’m not needed, I got other stuff to do on my own. This was negotiated last year.”
Unlike previous years, “NBA Countdown” is no longer the only ESPN studio show for NBA games, as “Inside the NBA” airs on select nights each month, totaling 20 times during the regular season.
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