November 21, 2025
Stephen A. Smith says it was his resolution to step away from ESPN’s “NBA Countdown,” not the community’s.
Stephen A. Smith mentioned he “negotiated” being faraway from ESPN’s NBA Countdown as a part of his $100 million contract.
On the Nov. 18 episode of The Stephen A. Smith Present, the sports activities commentator addressed ESPN’s Nov. 17 announcement {that a} “new-look NBA Countdown” was coming—with out him. Regardless of hypothesis that Smith, a longtime fixture on the present and a number one face of ESPN’s NBA protection, was being pushed out, he clarified it was fairly the other.
“I didn’t need to be on the present,” Smith declared. “I negotiated coming off of it.”
My response to the NBA Countdown “information”
Full video: https://t.co/iOcjHtzo6V pic.twitter.com/4RwEZNIxW8
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) November 18, 2025
The brand new NBA Countdown lineup consists of host Malika Andrews and analysts Brian Windhorst, Michael Malone, and Kendrick Perkins, with frequent appearances by NBA insider Shams Charania.
”Now I really like doing NBA Countdown, however as soon as the countdown present is over, I received different issues to do than to be in studio, watching the doubleheader, and approaching at halftimes,” he defined. “I received different stuff that I need to do, to organize for First Take the subsequent day, the subsequent morning, and to do an abundance of different issues that I aspire to do.
Apart from internet hosting First Take, Smith has his personal manufacturing firm and two SiriusXM exhibits,
He additionally identified that his departure from NBA Countdown will not be breaking information. In March, The Athletic’s Andrew Marchand reported that Smith would not be an everyday on ESPN’s NBA pregame present.
ESPN later confirmed that his contract does not require him to seem recurrently on any program apart from First Take. Nonetheless, the outspoken broadcaster will proceed making visitor appearances on numerous ESPN exhibits, together with NBA Countdown.
“In the event that they want me in L.A. for NBA Countdown, I’ll be there,” Smith mentioned on his present. “Matter of truth, I’ve days in my contract to be there. I simply don’t should be there full-time.”
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