Stephen A. Smith Steps Away from “NBA Countdown”

Stephen A. Smith announced that he requested to be removed from the “NBA Countdown” show, a decision that caught many by surprise given his long-standing presence on the program.

ESPN confirmed on Monday that a revamped version of “NBA Countdown” is set to launch, but notably, Smith will not be part of it. This has led to discussions among various news outlets, although Smith expressed some frustration about the focus on his absence and clarified that he spoke to negotiate his withdrawal from the show.

“I negotiated the contract, but… last year it started in June, ended in March, and went into April,” Smith explained during a SiriusXM show. “At that moment, I decided I didn’t want to do ‘NBA Countdown’ anymore. I enjoyed the show, but I felt like being in the studio until midnight limited me, especially with other commitments I had after the show. No disrespect to ESPN or my wonderful colleagues,” he added.

Smith, who is 58, is among ESPN’s most prominent talents, having recently signed a five-year contract worth over $100 million. His new deal allows him to continue his role on “First Take,” but it will also reduce his commitments in other areas, including “NBA Countdown.”

ESPN has announced that the new iteration of “NBA Countdown” will feature Malika Andrews as the host, with analysts Kendrick Perkins and former coach Michael Malone, along with reporters Brian Windhorst and Shams Charania.

Smith mentioned that stepping away from “NBA Countdown” gives him the opportunity to concentrate on his responsibilities with “First Take” and his SiriusXM show, which also overlaps with his political interests. Furthermore, he has begun participating in “Monday Night Countdown,” an experience he seems eager to continue weekly.

“There are a lot of other engagements to consider,” Smith remarked. “Just to clarify, when you work at ESPN, you’re part of a family, and I’m always ready to help. If there’s ever a need for me on ‘NBA Countdown,’ I’d come back. But this wasn’t some impromptu decision. I’ve had this planned out for a while.”

He acknowledged that ESPN has a well-established coverage team with “Inside the NBA,” and suggested they might not require his presence for pregame and postgame segments any longer.

“I’ve been in the NBA for 30 years. The ‘Inside the NBA’ team—Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal, and Ernie Johnson—are top-tier. They don’t need me, but I’ll be there if they do,” Smith said, showing support for his colleagues while emphasizing his busy schedule. “I’ve got a lot on my plate right now, including a political show and a production company that’s working on different projects,” he concluded.