Stephen A. Smith on Skip Bayless, First Take, LeBron vs Jordan & More With Shannon Sharpe | EP. 85

hello welcome to another edition of Club. Shay Shay I am your host Shannon sharp. I'm also the proprietor club shayshay. and for my first partnership with the. volume I knew I had to land someone big. he's not big he's huge he's ginormous. he's a legendary Sports journalist a. featured commentator Premier analyst. Fame host veteran reporter podcast the. actor writer executive producer. businessman New York Times best-selling. author one of the most recognizable. on-air personalities not just sports.

Personality personalities on television. a cultural icon and he's also a HBC you. Alum Stephen A Smith my brother bro. we're here what's up we're here you keep. knocking my braces. break anything. bro how you doing it's good to see you. bro how you doing bro I promise you I'll.

be here I'm here I need you to tell the. people yeah what you went through. because you promised me this because. we've been trying to get this thing. together for a little over six weeks now. and I see Stephen can you can you do. Tuesday at noon yeah and you said I'll. do it but I want you to tell the people. the length in which you went through to. get here at noon well what happened is. is that uh my my pastor for the. Christian Cultural Center in New York. City Pastor A.R Bernard had a. fundraising event at a golf tournament. in Long Island right and so they were.

honoring me uh the the night before I. came here and I had to play some golf. which I don't play so obviously I have. to embarrass myself for a few hours for. every one there's no footage. I know of nothing I know of but but for. every one good shot I hit uh I hit about. about 5 five to ten bad shots or. whatever but then after I did that. um I promised you I was gonna get here. in time so I had to take the private jet. get up in time and uh I flew here last. night got here about two in the morning.

woke up at 4 30 to prep for First Take. and then did First Take and here I am. bro that's love I really appreciate that. of course I know you talk about your. pastor but everybody that comes on you. know I have my own line of Cognac that's. right and I need to get you a bottle and. you'll leave here with a bottle ain't. nothing wrong with that I mean he know I. could get out of here you just give me. nothing in excess okay but I want to. toast you bro cause you paved the way. for a lot of guys you made it. not just athlete and I want to give you. your flowers bro appreciate appreciate. you man thank you so much man um coming.

from an HBCU obviously is a very very. big deal that's something that's near. and did in my heart I've been an. ambassador for HBCU week. um since around 2019 or so and in that. span we've generated over what is about. 65 million in scholarships for over you. know 3 000 students and so I'm really. really proud of that and hbcus always. near and dead in my heart and a. basketball coach Clarence big house. games who helped the late great John. McClendon in integrating the sport of.

basketball they were both HBCU icons and. both of them were big time mentors of. mine and they knew I didn't have the. game that was going to take me to the. next level but they knew I had the. mindset and the tenacity to do what I. could to help HBC use and all he ever. said to me was when I said what can I do. for all that you've done for me he said. don't forget hbcus you make sure that. you help any chance you get and that's. what I've been doing. what I tell people Stephen A is that. when I went to an HB when I went to. Savannah State I had no idea the.

importance or the magnitude of what was. going on at the time right it wasn't. until much much later right that I. realized that I had done something. special so when you're going when you're. matriculating at. Winston-Salem did you understand. what was going on at the time and how. big of a deal it was going to be later. no I didn't man all I was trying to do. was get my degree. um and to make sure that I positioned. myself to have a career instead of a job. when I'm giving speeches I constantly.

say to kids there's a difference between. a job and a career right a job is doing. what you have to do to maintain or. elevate your quality of life correct a. career is doing what you want to do it. just so happens to do those things yes. and so for me. um if you don't have an education the. chances of you being able to pull that. off even with the Advent of social media. and the opportunities that present. themselves I think it's a misnomer to. think that you don't have to have any. kind of education whatsoever and you're. going to succeed from a normal. perspective there are abnormal examples.

of course there's always somebody that. breaks the code but for the most part. you got to go through that that terrain. you got to go through that grind and for. me it was always understanding that so. when I was at Winston-Salem it was. really about getting that degree and. getting practical experiences I didn't. internship at the Winston-Salem Journal. I did an internship at the Atlanta. Journal Constitution then I came back. and did another internship at the. Greensboro News Record then back to the. Winston-Salem Journal before I even. graduated and so for me that was. incredibly important establishing that.

resume and really really showing that I. was a worthy individual because if I. didn't have those internships something. to prove that I was really really. committed by acquiring that level of. practical experience then it was going. to be my resume against somebody from a. pwi right and if you're somebody from a. dominantly white institution chances are. you're going to get the nod over. somebody in an HBCU so I understood the. crime I understood the the the obstacles. that I had to that I had to fight off. and that's what I wanted about the.

business of doing do you always want to. go to an HBCU or just just it just. happened bro it just happened I didn't. even know what an HBCU was until they. came to offer me a scholarship I had no. clue I heard about the the United Negro. college funds raw doing that every year. but that was about it because the fact. is that when you took an hbcus I mean.

there's some up north like Bowie State. yeah in the Maryland area and what have. you but for the most part that's right. but for the most part they down south. correct they are they in out west they. ain't in the midwest they damn sure. ain't on the East Coast so if you're. living in those places you simply don't. know right I and you know what I caught. a lot of criticism because I was one of. the top prospects in the state of. Georgia when I was coming out right and. I said an HBCU wasn't my first choice. had I not had I made had I not been prop. 48 I mean I had Georgia I had Texas I.

had Nebraska I had all the big schools. recruiting me and more times than not of. like but the best thing that I did. Stephen A is when my former coach. wrestler soul Bill Davis came down he. said son if you good they'll find you. right he said if I was drafting he said. I'll take you number one overall wow he. convinced me and I would have had an. opportunity to transfer and go to a pwi. right. I couldn't well I will tell you this. it's like and a lot and I've said this a. lot about white brothers and sisters I'm.

like look. ain't nothing like being surrounded by. your own and the advantage. don't understand they just don't. understand I mean you know the bands the. pep rallies yes I mean Lord the man. played a home game and they know where. they got the ball you got to be quiet. the band plays the entire game whether. we got the ball or they got the ball and. then you got the step shows and you got. the saw rods and you got the France and. you got the park and everybody's coming.

back from 20 years 30 years 10 years 15. years. just bring back memories let me tell you. something man I I I I listen you've. heard me listen people see me on TV you. hear me complain about a lot of things. like you ain't never heard people. playing about going to the HBC no no no. no it's the greatest experience I've. ever had in my life let me tell you. something right now I had a mentor of. mine he did God God Rest his soul Mr. Robert Devon he was a telecommunications. director at Winston-Salem State loved. them dearly he had to convince me to.

graduate time. I wanted to do internships to delay and. postpone graduation that's how that's. how much I was living the life they went. there where's the sale you understand. what I'm saying I mean it was like and. then everybody like well you know what. you'd be a disingenuous because you went. and you did an internship in Atlanta I. was like uh have you ever heard of. Spelman yes I have yes write down the. block that's right down the block okay. Atlanta just started and look Atlanta's.

always been Atlanta that's right it just. exploded in the last 20 but Atlanta was. back Atlanta back in the 70s in the 80s. Atlanta was like that how about that and. then on top of it all check this out so. you got to take a route if you're going. down you're going to I-85 you'll be. coming up you're going 85 I-85 North. right you're passing hbcus. yes so it's like yeah I'm in. Winston-Salem but I'm stopping uh. Johnson C Smith yes.

Lord I mean I ain't taking long ride. because you know you could cut through. and get the Winston state but they just. take the long run because you have to. pass through all of them things to get. to Winston-Salem I like why would I want. to rush why would I want to do that I. tell a lot of people I tell my white. counterparts I think I think everybody. should have to experience one semester. at an HBC yeah to get the feel to get.

and to have some of those teachers. because the professors Stephen I believe. they sincerely cared about you on the. shark I remember going to a class and. his name was Haynes Walton and Stephen. he come to class with a piece of. chocolate. and you start writing on the board I was. like okay take your notes and everything. and he said on this page such and such. and in this chapter such and such. how he know all of that every day for. like three weeks. so I got the text I said I'm gonna find. out how he knows so much what I started.

reading. text by Haynes Walton yep he wrote him. got him yeah you know everything and. from that point on right. every every I felt that every class that. I went to every Professor doctor they. could teach me something yeah and I was. attentive now it didn't hurt that you. know they were in class too that's right. that's right so I said the front of the. class I was there having a brief a brief. day I had on you know on Fridays I had. hard bottom shoes on slack hand me a.

nice Blazer pretend like I'm gonna be. something one day y'all need to go get. on O'Shea that's right ain't no question. and listen they cared um they held you. accountable they did they felt like they. were an extension of the family that you. departed from right and they made you. feel like if you disappointed if you. ended up being a disappointment you. disappointed them yes you disappointed. yourself you disappointed your family. you disappointed your community it was. at a level of accountability and not. only that they highlighted the obstacles. yes that were waiting for you so I was.

like listen we've been here we did it. this was waiting for you right what you. gonna do about it right and there's a. sense of Pride that kicks in but more. importantly when you go to an HBCU I. think this is the most important people. most important thing for folks to. understand particularly as it pertains. to black folks usually in every walk of. society we are alone in certain respects. yes when you go to an HBCU you got. company yes people who look like you who. share your cultural identity who share. your trials and tribulations the.

obstacles the pitfalls everything you. literally are looking at people hanging. with people and talking to people every. day where your experiences are not. foreign to them they all know it and so. they're gonna lift you up unless you. don't want to be right when you don't. want to be they know to leave you to the. side because you ain't about it right we. gonna stick with with people who's about. something and that's self-accountability. elevates everybody I think back Stephen. A one of the one of our I started off I. was prop 48 so I had to start off in. developmental studies right.

developmental studies is remedial right. so in other words all you're taking is. classes that doesn't go towards. graduation right Dr Joyce McLemore I'll. never forget I had a reading class and. uh after two days she called me up she. always called me Mr Sharp to this day. when I go back and see her Savannah. State he calls me Mr Sharp she said Mr. Sharp I don't want to see your next next. quarter yes they all say that she said. you're too smart she says you have no. business being in this class now Mr. Sharp I don't want to see you next. quarter she told a story everybody.

because about that time I ended up. graduating got my degree in playing in. the NFL she said y'all see that young. man on television he was in this very. class right but he worked his tail off. to get out and I did a lot of my. teammates were embarrassed because you. know it wasn't. it was a trailer that's right and you. know it's right next to Peacock Hall. where I went I would go eat breakfast. and walk right up in the Justice proud. because I wasn't ashamed because I put. myself in that situation see you. shouldn't be ashamed of something that. you put yourself in right I put myself.

in there but a lot of times people don't. see themselves as putting themselves in. that situation because they're not. willing to absorb and accept. accountability see the beauty of being. involved with Athletics. is that you're surrounded by people who. make you accountable for yourself you. it's like a human mirror you know when. you didn't work hard right you know when. you didn't put in the work you know when. you didn't listen yeah coach you know. when you didn't do all of these things. so that transitions to other forms it. could be the classroom it could be. anything else I remember even before I. got to college seventh grade it's in my.

book straight shooter my seventh grade. teacher Mr Caravan looked my mother dead. in the face and she said your son is not. a dummy she said he doesn't listen. with things he's not interested in right. drifts right so what happens is you. think he doesn't know what he didn't. understand he never heard him he will. literally drift and he doesn't hear. anybody anywhere he said but when you. find out what he's passionate about. you'll have a star on your hands right. and that's what you said and that came.

in handy because years later when I was. a beat writer especially when I was. covering the 76 and stuff like that I. have this uncanny ability I don't I'm. not saying it's a gift but I have this. uncanny ability I have been in an arena. with 20 000 people. and I didn't hear a word. I didn't hear anything like I'm on. Deadline right I got an article to write. I got 20 minutes to drive to write 800. words and I literally have the ability. to block out all the noise and it. reminded me of what Professor Caravan.

said to my mother about drifting right I. drifted to a different place except this. time I saw the positive in it right. because a lot of times if you're hearing. that noise you can't focus you can't. concentrate you can't get the job done. right I could because I could lock in. and I could tune out the noise you sound. like an athlete if you've heard athletes. say it say. it's like everything slows down. everything is moving in slow motion I. don't hear not one of those 85 000 or. those 30 000 famous screaming I hear.

nothing right everything is just hush. yeah and I can just I can actually hear. my heartbeat that's how quiet it is even. though I'm in a stadium right with 80. 000. and those are the great ones as an. athlete those are the great ones because. the ones who hear all the noise are the. ones who succumb to it and they Panic. they sweating a little bit after your. palms sweaty backsides tight they can't. really handle the pressure they fold. under the pressure but when you can when. you can be composed and poised on. depression right particularly on the. field of lettuces whether it's a quarter.

play the field to play or whatever the. case may be you got to start your hands. that wasn't me that was me when it came. to my job right I could tune out all of. that noise what people have is pressure. it's like you said we do television. every day I'm in front of the camera bro. I worry about nothing right I'm not. phased but I don't care who's in front. of me I don't care what noise people are. saying on the outside I don't care about. camera folks don't care about the. producers in the control room I don't. care about the bosses up there's. whatever when the camera is in front of. me I believe I own it right and I'm not. phased by anything it just doesn't phase.

me but I've seen people who have been. reporters for example and you put them. in front of the camera brother they. Sweating Bullets they nervous as hell. they stuttering they don't know what to. say they're trying to gather their. thoughts they're trying to be ultra. careful they don't know what to think. what to say or whatever the case and I'm. like this they have no chance yeah. but people think it's easy everybody. can't talk on camera right everybody. can't speak in front of us in front of. an audience right we've seen some of the.

greatest players yeah not be able to do. what you and I do on the regular and. people just like well how do you do it. right you just do it you just do it I. don't I don't see you. I don't hear all I all I hear is my own. voice right you I'm a little different. than that I think that you and I would. be a little bit different than that. because that's your gift and that's cool. me as anybody producer anybody would. tell you when I'm on the air. that's why they named me the executive.

producer first thing I ain't asked for. the job I didn't need another job right. the last thing I need is another job bro. I didn't it ain't like they throwing. extra money my way for this you know. what I'm saying they have it but they. came to me and I'm like this they're. like why they say you're producing the. damn show anyway on the set you looking. at the camera I know this camera is on I. know this camera is off I'm imagining. what the audience is doing because I. have a connection with the audience. right this is what they want to hear. this is what they don't want to hear. this is who they want to hear from at. this particular moment in time this is. who they want to hear more than this. would take a long time all right Steve.

it's time to jump in all right Steve. it's time to lay back because the. objective is the show it's not me it's. not you it's the show correct and the. objective is to make sure that the. people on camera are maximizing their. their potential in terms of their. presentation to the audience to grab. them and to reel them in right that's. how. it wasn't at the beginning at the. beginning I was a lot like that but as. time went on you're just seeing it. you're saying well wait a minute why did. this you're the quarterback this person. I've always that's what I see see for me.

I'm I got look I I know what everybody's. supposed to do right but I focus on my. job now if I need to tell somebody their. route or they need to hey this blitz you. high or you got a block well you showed. the world that what would you posted on. Twitter who laid it up for you yeah. that's that's that to me is my job let. me ask you a question like. when you say like these viral and people. that's like when do you know what you're. gonna say a lot of times when stuff goes.

viral I had no idea because I don't know. what he's gonna say right you don't know. what everybody's gonna say. but sometimes you just it just happens a. moment happens how much it is just. reactionary or because like I said you. have a lot of different you have Mad Dog. you have Ryan Clark you have do you have. swagu you have so many different people. so it's hard to get a beat or Rhythm to. what they're gonna say if you don't know. them okay and if you don't know the. audience okay and so what happens is I.

know what the audience wants from Ryan. Clark I Know What It Wants from swagoo I. know what it was for Molly I know what. it wants from Mad Dog I know what it was. from Alaska I know what it was from. Shannon sharp okay for the purposes of. that show and so I'm looking at Shannon. sharp and I'm like. and three-time football champion. that's one of the greatest tight ends in. NFL history as a Hall of Fame and dammit. he loud and he's boisterous he gonna. come right at you and all of this other.

stuff okay this is what they want and. this is what they're going to get right. now you don't want to give it to them. too much right All in One Bowl right you. want to spread it out she says it was. freaking it out you want a little bit. here a little bit all right it's 10 10. 15 10 o'clock boom 10 15 here we come. the momentum is swelling all of a sudden. it might be a little bit too much you. might one dollar back a little bit. because we coming at 11 right then wake. up at 11 15. I hope we come in at 11 30. see that's how I'm thinking okay so it's.

like okay yeah I want you to shine and I. want you to I want you to be you because. I'm going to beat me right and so here. we come and the audience is watching how. do you know that because you paid. attention to the audience right you're. not sitting up there manipulating them. you're not disrespecting them you're. showing them you appreciate them because. you're paying attention to what they're. telling you and showing you they won a. lot of times you have talent and it's. like listen this is my lane and there's. something to be said about that when you. know who you are yeah and you know what. you bring that's not to be disrespected.

that's to be appreciated okay here's his. strength well if I have a different. strength how do I get to complement that. so he can shine while we shine that is. the objective when you're trying to win. and it's applicable on the football. field on the quarter plate or on the. television set but how many people are. thinking like that I'll tell you who the. winners think like that the losers don't. it's very simple you know what I want to. address some comments that you said. because you said condolences in advance.

yep he's the modern day black Hulk he's. not used to getting beat down that's. right welcome to the beat down well let. me tell you let me elaborate first of. all obviously I was over physically hey. I got no shot I got no shot I mean let's. get that out the way right now let's get. that out the way right now yourself say. let's get that out the way right now I. will not talk about Facebook I got no. shot whatsoever but you know I've seen. you I've seen you debate quite often. yeah yeah yeah. you could do your thing but you know you. ain't never been up against me you're.

serious this is a little dead little. different going up against me you see. what happens is you got people that are. trying to win the debate to be right. yeah. false. it's about your perspective up against. mine and who can convince the audience. their perspective is better than the. next Ah that's what it's about you see a. lot of times somebody like somebody that. it's a mistake to argue with Shannon. sharp about the facts of football you.

don't do that none of you didn't play. right oh no no no no no no no oh please. you got no shot but you can go like this. you know something is really nice I. heard what you said but you see you said. this two weeks ago they're not. consistent with what I just heard I mean. you saw this game right now I'm not you. but damn it I got two eyes right I saw. that are you telling me what I saw was a. lie really you're sure about that what. didn't you say this a year ago you see. these are the kind of things like you.

know you obviously you know you love. yourself some LeBron James yeah yeah. yeah. I just got off the phone with them. the blast for me coming out of your. mouth it's okay you can believe it you. can believe that man but we'll do I'm. sure you know what right. the first LeBron topic right don't need. to be nobody here's what they don't need. to be nobody here's what's going to hurt. you here's what's gonna hurt you because.

you see when you talking like that. people like but but that no I'm. gonna sit back and let you talk and then. I'm gonna say you finish. are you sure you sure no and you're. gonna be like nah and I'm gonna say you. gotta wait now because I waited here I. come and you have to deal with the. tsunami that I'm gonna break I'm gonna. rain down upon you when it comes. especially to that that's better and. that was it and that's what you're gonna. have to say listen LeBron listen.

I got this man. the game was started in 1947. I got. LeBron James. the thousands of players that have. played in the NBA I got him number two. all times yeah yeah you got people. walking around like that's disrespect it. is I got a number see that's the motion. that's the most right there listen let. me tell you something right now I. personally believe a legitimate argument.

could be made that I'm sitting in front. of the greatest tight end in the history. of football some people bring in ground. Tony Gonzalez. of course but you're in the conversation. and you know because your brethren I. mean they give you right love and. respect right I can say that but my. point to you is is that. if somebody said you weren't number one. you don't feel insulted no so why you. got to be yourself to development. because that's emotions.

you told me the storm was coming right. see your storm happened for nine years. then took two years off right and it. happened for three years it took another. three years off and then it kind of just. like drizzling my Storm been going for. 21 years raining you could say that and. my retort to that would be six NBA. Finals losses. there's six final losses yeah six finals. losses let me ask your question six I. just want you to tell me one thing we're. gonna debate this sure tell me the team.

that he faced that with the 2017 or the. 2018 Golden State Warriors. what do you mean I don't understand your. question Michael Jordan tell me the. cheat you talk about Michael Jordan I. want you to tell me the team the Michael. Jordan face that was the equivalent of. the 17 and 18. no one can I respond to. that sure can I say why no one do you. know why. see that's the ultimate equalizer or. usurper pick whichever one you want to. what you want to pick you understand. that Jordan the 6-0 in NBA Finals yeah.

you understand that Jordan was MVP all. six NBA Finals yeah did you understand. that Jordan never even allowed the final. series to go seven games also. um. excuse me ten time NBA scoring champion. nine-time all defensive play all. defensive first team you do know that. right yeah all right that's not in other. words it was LeBron on both sides of the. ball was he that dominant oh he was. ready but you know he should have won it. you know he should are you kidding me. Stephen are you kidding give me this.

okay you know good well LeBron James. should have one Defensive Player of the. Year how does how does uh uh the smart. Gasol who's the second Team all. defensive player be defensive player of. the year I agree with that I agree with. that but the flip side to it is that as. we watched LeBron James even with his. greatness at one point in time as a. defensive player we never looked at him. and said oh my God that's that dude. defensively yeah you had you had no. LeBron is universally respected and.

revered. MJ was feared you know the difference. you know the difference because there. are people who have feared you you know. the difference better than me you know. the difference between reverence and. fear look you know this you like John. Wick I like James he's all right he's. all right can I have James. you could be John Wayne okay I prefer. James Bond shot up the whole place kill. everybody okay James Bond killed a few. people got the latest they do the same.

thing right remember Holly remember when. Halle Berry was walking out the ocean he. said magnificent view remember that yeah. you know that that's that stuff is stuff. that's Pierce Brosnan but you know Dan. you Craig of course Sean Connery the man. okay I mean this is I'm trying to the. versatility of James Bond is weird. you could say that but one through five. you've seen him do it I'm not denying. that shut down Tony Parker on winning in.

the last five minutes say I got 10. minutes I also saw him get checked when. Jason Terry was guarding him in the post. in his finals against Dallas you go. ahead and deny that no okay then so so. let me ask you a question has there ever. been a time when Michael Jordan showed. up in the NBA finals and you literally. looked at him and said yo he'd show up. yeah nobody come on let me ask you a. question I'm gonna do it like this here. sure tell me the guy that he faced that. with the award the equivalent of Kevin. Durant.

Michael Jordan well I would say Steph. Curry I wouldn't say the equivalent of. Kevin Durant but let's go down the list. he beat magic for this first time magic. was 73 okay I find you I'm going I'm. going down the list oh nevertheless I. didn't hear you say that when magic was. here but we're talking about it. you didn't say that with magic. I feel you on that other way he took. Vlade Divac in those guys it wasn't. Kareem and worthy but you saw what he. did but Jordan in the first game right. put a triple double under the head and.

put Scotty Pippen on it that's cool okay. that's fair. Michael Jordan I'm sorry Magic Johnson. the first title Clyde Drexel in the crew. the second title Charles Barkley Kevin. Johnson don't ignore that damn all in. them the third okay okay. Peyton the glove with Sean Camp before. he became one Hall of Fame and then also. you've got Carl Malone John Stockton yes. and you have an NBA game that was.

considerably tougher at that particular. moment in time than today's NBA game is. in terms of physicality and what's. allowed yes so you can appreciate this. yes you can appreciate that before you. can put your where you could put your. forearm on people when you can hand. check them when you can do a lot of. things you can't do now right now you'll. get called for passing gas true you will. but it's a different game now but here's. the thing Stephen okay what you and the. old school guard okay have equated. physicality with talent and skill the. guys in today's game are more skilled I.

I totally agree with that I totally. agree with that but you would know this. better than me because you were an old. world player even though the game of the. NFL has evolved significantly. you know good and damn well that if you. were playing in this time oh yeah you. would have adapted yes you played in. that time you adapted yeah the game in. the 60s and 70s you would have adapted. to no time so what I'm trying to say to. you is this Michael Jordan was what he. needed to be if he was playing today he. would be what he needed to be in order.

to be successful today. that's all I'm trying to say when you. see greatness on that level yeah you. have to concede that that's the case but. see all they ask Michael do with the. cook LeBron had to cook he had to clean. he had the weight tables to take order. well you could say that but what I'm. saying all right if the brother's doing. it on both sides of the floor then. obviously he's doing more than one thing. he's doing that too. how many guys you know that are top five. four and top five or six how about this. how about one Shaquille O'Neal with.

Penny Hardaway Nick Anderson 3D Dennis. Scott knows boys yeah Juan Orlando right. yeah how about the fact that. they couldn't even get the ball past. half court because Scottie Pippen and. Michael Jordan had him on Lockheed yeah. full corporates we never see LeBron do. that we never see LeBron do that LeBron. do that you know stop it he never did it. you remember I never did. MVP y'all voted D Rose MVP what they do. to DeRose in the playoffs excuse me is. excuse me D Rose what kind of team do.

you have you couldn't tell me yo Kim. knowing those boys was a disappointed. they did enough to get the number one. season. I voted him MVP and still picked Miami. to win that series I knew they want to. go beat Miami in the best of seven the. playoffs are different yeah all right. but that don't mean LeBron deserve the. MVP I know by the way I don't even knock. LeBron James for not getting the MVP. because when you're that great you're. not gonna put all your efforts in over. 82 games you playing for April May in. June so this is entirely possible I'm.

very fair to LeBron James Sometimes most. times most times actually I'd say all. it's just that I call it like I see it. I'm not emotional like you no no no no. I've been doing my homework on you yeah. you know what I got a call today for one. Michael Jordan he rolled up on me in a. black SUV and roll the window that's. true that's true yeah that was scary I. thought he was gonna shoot I thought I. thought it was a ride by it was in. Denver I thought it was a damn drive but. I scared to live the hell out of me you. understand me that's it that's an. absolutely true story but at the end of.

the day all I'm trying to say is that. LeBron is phenomenal he's great we. should throw no shade on him one of the. greatest ever top three yeah. foreign. to me but more importantly let's go to. Kareem 19 time All-Star six-time League. MVP champion on the high school level. champion in the NBA oh good lord of. Mercy six okay four top leading scorer. before LeBron surpassed them all of that.

stuff happened I'm just saying come on. now the resume is better but I still. don't believe he was the player that. LeBron James is yeah all right but what. I hold and I'll say this to you I'll. tell you something that I've very really. said. if you took LeBron James career from. 2012. to now and that was his history from his. first title to what he is now and you. wanted to make an argument against. Jordan I'm listening the problem is we.

don't get to ignore those first seven or. eight years where there were a couple of. occasions where one he was accused of. quitting and number and I don't believe. that by the way no I don't believe it. accused no no no no no I'm talking about. this God still game law I got you but. yeah I feel you but it's true but it's. still accusable but the point is. no no against Boston I don't believe. that it was a lot of stuff going on. LeBron that's none of our business that. people that would totally unfair to him. including this damn teammate yeah but. that's a different story for another day.

I never held that against them right but. when you got four games against the. Dallas Mavericks in which people looked. at you and said choke if you say that. you know what you cannot get past I. can't I can't I can't argue about that. one I can't argue about it that to me. that to me sealed the deal about the MJ. LeBron comparison so what what what if. he were to win a title this year don't. matter 39 years of age so. so that's on the race Jordan that.

waitress see there you go see that's the. argument that people have when I was. talking about Tom Brady not playing well. I'm not trying to take away what. Jordan's accomplished I agree he got. those Rings he got six finals MVPs right. he has six championships he had five. regular season MVP right. if LeBron gets another title Stephen A. I'm not gonna race what Jordan did but. he already he already here for me okay. all he's doing is just but but what I'm. saying to you is I already talked about. the Dallas thing yeah and I talked about.

moments which you can appreciate what. I'm trying to say to you is that when. you are that dude right that doesn't. happen to you often that happened to. Magic when they called them tragically. yeah. you get all of that you understand what. I'm saying but for the most part that. doesn't happen and this is the kind of. thing that you also have to pay. attention to as well not only do you not. get to say that about Jordan. but when you look at LeBron think about. this you want me to tell you what I hold. against him just as much as I held. against the Dallas performance what the.

following year with the All-Star Game. you got the ball in your hands it's an. exhibition it's an exhibition it's not. it doesn't count right it's all that fun. right Kobe claps his hand God Rest his. soul yo let's come on you got D Wade on. the court you got mellow in the corner. and he threw the past and all three of. them along with Kobe descended on LeBron. and said yo what's up what you doing. because they knew he was psyched out he.

was messed up and what I'm saying to you. is that Kobe wasn't like that MJ wasn't. like that it's a D Wade wasn't like that. in his first NBA Finals appearance they. down 0-2 to Dallas D Wade goes berserk. averages 37 and last four games I'm just. saying it's stuff like that. it's not that you look at LeBron and you. diminish him it's just that you can't. Elevate him above somebody like MJ when. I got that evidence to support my. argument that's all and that's why I got.

him number two all-time God strike me. that I mean my Lord I mean what an. insult I mean the number two all-time in. the history of the game and it's an. insult only you and and Rich Paul and. people like that feel that way most of. us sane individuals know better no. let me ask you this yeah you and I have. conversation and people like well how. close are your Steven A I said uh I met. him in 2014 when I when I came on the. show yeah I said we've talked over here. we exchanged numbers and we've talked. over the years yeah but I said over the.

last year and a half or so uh I was. going through some things and he was the. one guy that was in this business that I. felt I could talk to it would stay. between us but he would give me sound. advice. and so now you have your thing with. First Take You You You Are The Voice you. were the face of First Take you're the. first face of ESPN. what made you reach out. say bro I want you because I got love. for you bro. and that's just that's just me being a. man and and speaking his two brothers.

um. you know you know our former boss at. first take Jamie Horowitz who is over he. brought you over to FS1 and all of that. and he knows my history he knows what I. stand for. um I remember when I first you can ask. him I remember when I first arrived on. first take and I rolled up in there and. I saw a bunch of white folks and I said. yo we're the brothers the sisters at you. don't think I'm gonna be sitting here. working with a bunch of white folks do. you I don't mind white folks I ain't got. nothing against y'all God bless you you.

understand what I'm saying we all. brothers and sisters the eyes of God. when all is said and done but you ain't. gonna just have me surrounded by a bunch. of little white folks you better. sprinkle a little sprinkle some some. peppers. and so you know he brought one and then. the next thing you know I picked two or. three others and made sure to diversify. that staff and then one of the things. that I did when I came in there I knew. skip was going to want to debate me and. whatever but I was talking about subject. matters that we needed to Broach because. it was still his show but he respected.

me enough to get my opinion and I was. like we need all of these other people. because I want voices and I'm just I'm. built differently what I mean by that is. there's no shade on you or anybody else. but I don't believe anybody's knocking. me off my purchase I will knock me off. my purse you know corporate stuff. bureaucratic stuff yeah that stuff you. can't you know right I'm talking about. in terms of my on-air performance my job. performance I don't worry about it you. know what I worry about the day that I. want to leave and I haven't done. anything to create opportunities for us.

to continue and so for me it's like I. look at you I think that you're smart. you're obviously incredibly accomplished. you ain't gonna never hear me say no. disrespect to anybody not to bring up. nothing you're gonna never hear me say. three Super Bowl championships the Hall. of Fame status don't mean nothing I. don't roll like that right that's not. who I am I'm the kind of person that I. argue with you about football but I want. the audience to know yo you the football. expert right not me right I'm the. reporter that walks in and I'm like.

that's what I saw tell me I'm wrong this. is what I'm seeing tell me I'm wrong. this is where I'm coming just like me. and you talking about I know you I don't. give a damn how much basketball you know. you don't know no more basketball than. me I've been coming I learned from. Living Legends and all that stuff but I. still want to hear what you have to say. you can listen to me talk to a football. why the hell can I listen to you talk. about basketball right and so all of. that and then your heart being a. conscientious brother caring about the. issues that you cared about speaking. about the issues that you speak about. nah brother I am sharp as I am and yeah.

I got mad dog Russo that's white I got. Dan olowski that's a white dude you see. what I'm saying you know Jeff Saturday. at one time he was on the show that's a. white man but the bottom line is I want. it all I want to make sure there's. Brothers their sisters black and white. ethnic you know Hispanics Asian and I. don't give them who it is I want to make. sure we're representing America and we. make sure that everybody that looks at. our show says I can identify with what. they're saying but in the end when it. comes to me personally you know whether.

it's Ryan Clark it's Marcus Spears all. right it's Damian Woody it's Louis. Riddick the list goes on and on my. brother Michael Irvin that's now over at. ss1 Keyshawn Johnson these are my boys I. go back decades with these These are My. Brothers right you know what I'm saying. they will tell you you ask anybody that. that knows me I'm about getting you paid. I'm about helping you become successful. I'm about letting you shine I'm not. threatened by anybody's appearance it's. it's my obligation but you heard it you.

do it you've heard the comments Yes Man. Stephen amen he's strong-willed he brag. blah blah blah like Shanna. strong will. iron blah blah blah how is that gonna. work they don't know they know they tell. people yeah I'm saying two people that. strong will can absolutely get along. that's right as long as there's respect. absolutely the moment one disrespects. the other the other loses respect for.

the one that disrespected him right so. now it's just a matter of time exactly. and that's not gonna happen no because I. don't roll like that I don't roll like. no it's like yo I'm gonna argue with you. about your points but you know what we. gonna agree we gonna disagree but at the. end of the day we brothers and we gonna. sit up there and try to do what we can. to make our products shine right that's. our responsibility because if we do if. we do otherwise all we're doing is. inhibiting the other success right we're. getting in the way of what we're trying. to do right that makes no sense. whatsoever and not only that it's.

setting a bad example for our community. if I need really need to get deeper. about it because what happens is that. always so they can't chill they can't. sit up there right and do a show. together they can't get along you see. that crabs in the barrel mentality blah. blah blah nah man we showing something. different right you know first take I've. been blessed and fortunate enough. Throwing Shade on nobody we've been. number one for 12 years we gonna be. number one for 13. it's just that simple. and 14. damn it if I do it for 15 gonna. be 15. that's the way it's gonna be. that's how my mentality is and I don't.

root for anybody to fail I just root to. be the best right and there's a. difference and as far as I'm concerned. anybody that's with me we the best is. what we're gonna do so now is we it. ain't Stephen A is it's we and when you. come to First Take us you ain't start. yet you're gonna see it's a family. you're gonna see we get along it ain't. fake we roll with one another right We. Vibe for one another we watch one. another's back it has always been that. way under my stewardship of the show and. I can say my stewardship of the show.

because the show was handed to me they. ain't coming to me and I just took the. title and oh no right they came to me. and said it's yours you're responsible. for it if I didn't want. is that you told me months in advance. because you was telling me things that. were going on at Park hell I didn't know. it I'm like hold on I drive this.

building every day how the hell you know. what I do don't know you and you telling. me bro it's going down like this it's. happening like this and I'm just. scratching my head I'm like I'm at this. building every day and everybody. cheating was that right you was. absolutely spot on and tell you I was. right you know and and by the way it. wasn't because. a fox it's because I know the business. right I've been here for 30 years I can. see it a mile away you know I could see.

the hand writing on the wall I knew when. it was over for you bro I'ma be real. with you I knew when it was over and I. was like. I'm here you see what I'm saying because. because I knew what was going to happen. what happens is when you got noise and. we're gonna call it like I'm gonna call. it like I said you don't want to do this. let me do it all right because I've been. in the business long enough. when you're black. and you have the kind of. evident apparent meaning public.

situations like that. we don't win. everybody's circling the sharks are. circling now it's not one person and. it's not uh you know the collusion going. on instinctually people tend to believe. this believe this believe that and the. shocks are circling and that's why I. came out you know the number one reason. I came out even before First Take was. even on my mind the number one reason I. came out Shannon Sharpe and I said I.

want Shannon sharp on First Take. because I wanted the world to know that. you were wanted. that was the most important thing to me. I wanted to work I didn't want you to be. in a situation where the Sports World. looked at you and said what'd he do he. must have done something Persona group. blah blah blah blah so I said I said if. he ends up he ends up here the honchos. know I want him but more importantly. than that this is a brother that I think. has done a lot of good work on. television that has helped our community.

and as a result it's incumbent upon me. because of the perch that I sit on to. let them know right he's wanted right. don't cut him off because that's what. they did to me in 2009 they cut me off. and left me for Dad bro and I'm not. talking about ESPN I'm talking about the. industry they cut me off and left me for. dead they thought I was done they were. writing my epitaph and I knew it and I. said. I was blessed and fortunate enough to. have enough connections and to do what I.

do to overcome it I don't know if this. brother does so let me let the world. know he has me. and we'll go from there that happening. that absolutely happened like that. because you and I was talking and you. was like bro I got this but soon as I. get out of this meeting I'll hit you. back and we were talking 20 minutes 30. minutes an hour and you took every last. one of my calls and I'm thinking to. myself and I remember getting on the. phone calling my sister and I was like. maybe it's it's probably going to happen. I say because it's not coming from.

inside it's coming from somebody that I. know knows the business and he wouldn't. booge out me but he told me. that as a 95 chance that it's gonna. happen and he wants me on his show and. I'm like I don't want I think I'm good. at what I do right. and and for him it did my heart good. right because I know what you represent. in this industry to say I want him on my. show right whatever whatever it is I. don't believe nothing look.

you go back and from when I was with the. Broncos for 12 10 years went to. Baltimore for two back to the Broncos. for two CBS for a decade I would fought. for six years now one person never said. anything about shelter difficult to work. with he does this that my greatest. compliment from players is guys that. were on my team say Shannon sharp the. greatest team that I ever had he's my. favorite teammate the way he approached. it the way he was and so for you to come. to me right and to say what you said. when you didn't have to do any of it and.

nobody would have held that against you. because like you said that's what would. have happened and I heard it man he must. have did something yeah no showed up. every day on time and did a hell of a. job I remember when Jamie Horowitz who. were talking about came to recruit me in. 2016 in April at the W Hotel. trust me yeah he says I know Talent it. goes deeper than that because you see.

Jamie whether he wants to tell you this. or not I knew back then skip was. auditioning you. because whenever I took off. you would be there yes and what Jamie. wouldn't tell anybody is that there were. extra days that I would take off just so. skip could break you on because. again if you're not creating. opportunities for other people what good. are you right my pastor says and I'm not. the most religious person in the world I. mean as promiscuous as I've been in my.

lifetime at least I mean I mean I am in. no position you know I'm a lot better. now over the last over the last decade. or so but Lord I have my issues no. question about it and and and you know. my pastor would say all the time. there's no success. without a successor and so when I look. at you know for me. all the brothers that are on the show. one of my proudest moments was when. Michael Irvin came last year and the. reason why it was proud because I loved.

the playmaker he and I are very very. tight with brothers and I know what his. name brings and the stature that it. holds and so you're thinking that he. comes and others are going to feel. alienated but if you watched him when he. was on the show with us it was a. Brotherhood yeah yeah you see what I'm. saying it was a Brotherhood so you know. him because you know how great he is. exactly everybody but it's like all of. these all I mean or live skin RC and.

everybody Swagger they they wanted to be. on the air with him right and so my. point is is that that's how it's. supposed to be it's like wait a minute. the NFL constantly talks about what a. Brotherhood exists yeah well guess what. First Take is a platform for Brotherhood. right so when Shannon comes on yeah. you're gonna be on the air with me but. guess what them brothers gonna slide up. in there yes y'all need to be with each. other yeah you need to be next to each. other you need to be you know verbally. knocking somebody like me upside the.

head when I'm coming at y'all like right. yeah I'm not I'm not a little. journalistic I saw this yeah look at it. and y'all like look at this guy right. here you know what I'm saying I mean and. and we're laughing and having a blast. It's Entertainment bro but it's. information right okay it's perspective. yes it's serious stuff that needs to be. addressed it's the whole gamut and think. about it we got the national Airwaves. for the worldwide leader available to us. to disseminate and display our message I.

believe our culture our perspectives and. put them all on display for everybody to. see to come back or to embrace right but. the point is at the end of the day you. ain't gonna feel alone right you gonna. be there yeah and we gonna be together. why because I'm gonna have you back. that's why and they gonna have your back. and that's the way it's gonna be you. know what people ask me where it's gonna. be when people ask me Stephen they're. just like bro how do you. say what you say. and then because yeah you go to the game.

you might be bump into some of these. guys right so how do you handle that. situation. I say if I see them out I'm now they. acknowledge me I acknowledge them back. if they don't I keep it moving keep it. moving I don't make it personal because. I don't know these guys well enough to. make it personal right I'm talking about. a given situation you didn't play good. in last night it doesn't diminish. anything that you accomplished before. last night right it doesn't diminish. anything that you might accomplish. moving forward right I'm talking about a. specific set of events that happened.

last night right how do you handle that. Stephen because I know see most times. they look at me they do a double take. they're like nah I'm gonna let that go. that's right they don't want that smoke. they don't want that they don't want to. approach. but with you I'm thinking that like man. why you say that yeah well first of all. I respect any of them who comes up to me. man-to-man and confronts yes because if. you want to have a conversation here's. where I'm big on if I said something. publicly and I'm wrong I'm going to.

correct it publicly thank you I'm not. going to do something publicly and then. apologize properly now if I'm wrong I'm. gonna do it I'm going to do it publicly. I'm gonna man up because that's the kind. of man that I am that's how my mama. raised me to be the other thing that I'm. gonna do but if I'm right I'm not. budging you ain't gonna scare me you. ain't gonna intimidate me you ain't. gonna phase me let's get it on like I. tell people all the time figuratively or. otherwise it's not about getting your. ass kicked it's about what you're. willing to take an ass kicking for you. got to be principled right and you got.

to be somebody that's willing to stand. on something yes and I'm the kind of. person that's will understand or. something I'm not trying to get personal. I'm talking about your game right you're. gonna listen I've seen players do some. stuff behind the scenes man I'm walking. out of a hotel room whatever I see. whatever and I'm like this it ain't. illegal nothing like that but I'm just. going like this. I don't know what you're talking about. I keep it moving you know my business. but when you shoot two for 20 oh that's. my that's my business when you lose. engage that's my business when you.

stinking up the joint that's my business. when you're not showing up in practice. that's my business when you sitting. there bitching and wanting one in the. morning about your money but you ain't. earning it that's my business because. that's your career right that you've. decided to put on public display correct. that's the difference but your personal. business man I always got you covered on. that as long as you know don't ask me. the assistant breaking any laws or. anything like that because I ain't going. to jail for your ass it ain't gonna. happen but outside of that I mean ain't. none of my business I keep it moving.

football it you love your team I'm. thinking you like All Things New York. Steelers you the Steelers got my Die. Hard Steelers fan because the first date. the first game I ever saw was the. Immaculate Reception wow when I was six. years old my dad. the Immaculate Reception Franco Harris. against the Raiders and I fell in love. with the black and gold ever since yeah. I still haven't given uh Neil O'Donnell. for that interception through the Larry. Brown Super Bowl I still am recovering. from now I still haven't given Ike. Taylor to give another damn touchdown. pass to Demaryius Thomas the Tebow threw. don't give me that's probably the worst.

movie that might have been the worst. moment of your own air career that might. have been the worst one Stephen man. listen man I had. I was with a girl I was dating at the. time. and you know her fine self and. everything and I had my mind on other. things yeah. and Tebow connected that pass. I collapsed face first on her living. room rug and laid there for two hours.

didn't do nothing at night totally. ruined my night yeah totally ruined. anyone to do nothing I didn't want. anything it would I was so damn. depressed of all people and I love them. deal he's my friend but that. non-throwing Tim Tebow throwed 80 yard. touchdown pad I could not believe to. save my life that that happened and I I. it I couldn't recover that night bro I. was depressed but those two moments are. my worst as a still speed. so obviously if you're a Steelers fan.

you have to hate the Cowboys because. when the 70s of course they always met. in the Super Bowl yeah and the Steelers. always beat them yeah right damn right. so Roger Staubach and Drew yeah. still took him out yes Bradshaw Swan. Star Wars even Franco Harris well I. really didn't like that much as a. running back you know I said I like. Rocky blind more than I like Franco. Harris he was a fullback right but the. Steelers and the Steel Curtain would. Mean Joe Green LC green with Jack.

Lambert Jack and Mel Bundy I like Lord. this is what it's all about yeah I. couldn't root for no New York teams they. didn't win anything. they're terrible terrible. so now. you basketball that's your thing but. yeah what's Stephen A's favorite sport. it's basketball but I've grown to really. really love footballs because because. football has been established as an. event so that's Sundays you know what. I'm saying when you come to New York one. time I'll bring you by the crib I'm.

gonna bring you back show your crib you. know saying I got I got the man cave. it's set up okay it's set up now you. know so we're gonna watch the game. together right they're right they're. right we can do that please do that with. Ryan Clark Marcus Fields all they talk. about a couple more times one time I. just invite you all about make sure I. got some catered food yeah yeah okay. cause I know you can't cook yeah hell no. hell no I got some lasagna cook some. steak but nobody need a lasagna hell yes. we do who do you think I am Garfield. you might not eat the lasagna you know. what I'm saying knowing you you you're. watching the co-ops and stuff like that. but some of us gonna eat it but I will.

tell you this it I ain't cooking for a. bunch of men it ain't happening. right here I'll tell you this right here. right now you know. You're Gonna Go football has established. itself as an event yeah but really the. two things I love most. is basketball and nothing beats a big. time boxing event oh yeah like when I. was at Aerospace yeah I saw you right it. broke my I picked Crawford to win I know. you wouldn't like that yeah if you broke.

my heart to see Errol Spence get whipped. like that yeah he really really did I. didn't see that coming. um I might be at Canelo versus uh. Charlie and petite my problem is is that. Charles moving up two weight classes. I'm scared for him now he got mad skills. and he got hard and he walks around. looking like the bigger guy but he ain't. been in a ring with somebody that's. punching him from 168 pounds right in a. real fight right and so that's my.

concern his brother got some issues that. he got to resolve that's what they say. but he's the natural super middleweight. right so he was the one who in my. opinion should have been fighting right. Charlo I'm sorry for Canelo rather than. this guy but those big time boxing. events in Vegas I mean nothing beats it. I mean this The Spence fight was really. big but it's been a while since you had. those I remember going to the Mike Tyson. and the Mayweather right where it was an. event yeah Mayweather Canelo Mayweather.

yes that was a big event too but I will. tell you. nothing was really bigger than. Mayweather Pacquiao we had waited so. long yeah and bro it was five years too. late but we didn't know until after the. fight that it was five years too late. you don't say so leading up to the event. oh my God it didn't get any bigger but. you know the thing is. everybody that Mayweather fought he made. him look like it was five years too late. right and that's how the great that's. the greatness of him yes everybody that. he thought did like what he beat sugar.

he beat your sugar or sugar shade mostly. you look at the Champions that this man. beat and made them look mundane from. beating them right did you talk about. Mayweather right Mayweather I would say. the same about Jordan but that's the. difference. I mean I'm glad that you heard that I. mean that's what I'm talking about. I'm saying you know because. you're gonna make you look.

like you're less than what y'all like. we're supposed to LeBron will beat you I. know he but MJ would make you look like. less than what you are I know Scotty. Scotty I know Scotty don't call this and. don't invite because what's transpired. and everything you know but that is. Scotty's fault Scotty was wrong Scotty. was wrong oh yeah but no no no no no let. me tell you how I started okay you know. it started in the Last Dance okay. because the last dance was supposed to. be about Jordan's last dance why are you. putting Scottie Pippen in there for an.

event that you weren't even on the team. on. um let the journalist in me correct you. go ahead the Last Dance was about the. last season for the Chicago okay the. last season yes so what happened is is. that they all on their way out so you're. telling different stories about them and. their careers with the bulls while. they're Fading Into the Twilight yeah so. that kind of stuff does make it relevant. but you know you're gonna make Scotty. look bad well Scotty deserved to look.

back but you don't have to tell it there. are a lot of times Stephen hey well wait. a minute now. it ain't like he said yo man this is the. woman he was messing with or something. no he said yo you passed up this. contract you wanted more money damn. that's public information you Brian stop. don't sign this deal because if you sign. this deal you can't come back to me. because I'm not going to renegotiate. your deal I get it I mean damn uh you. you Michael Jordan's gone you want to be. that dude and then you gonna sit up. there and refuse to enter the game.

because of Tony CU coach I mean that. happened in front of millions of people. watching it did come on man I gotta tell. the story though but why not it's part. of the story but Jordan went back let me. ask you a question. let me excuse me excuse me Jordan was. still around he was coming to visit the. team Scottie Pippen wearing the sneakers. kicking his feet up look at the bottom. of the soles of the shoes Jordan come on. back come on back all that other stuff. hell your Jordan wasn't dead engine say. nothing about that by the way where's. your place did you play in Denver yes. did you play in Baltimore yes so we.

shouldn't talk about that yeah wait we. should talk we should talk well so. whatever happened to Baltimore we need. to be great. we need to be there keep that quiet but. here's the thing it's a part of your. story but here's the thing just the way. I look at I'm not going to tell an event. that I wasn't a part of so anything that. happened in Baltimore from 2000 in 2001. if I tell it in my story I can tell it. in my story because I was there when Ray. went through what he went through in. Atlanta I was there I was picking him up.

from the courthouse he was living with. me in my basement so if I want to tell. my story right that I should be able to. include but that's a far that's a far. different angle the man was accused of a. crime it was off the field yes it was. very personal and even though you were. involved that's his personal business. there's nothing about Scottie Pippen. turning down a contract well Scottie. Pippen refusing to enter a playoff game. that's personal no but he's saying that.

that's life but he said when Scotty was. talking about having the back surgery. and he wanted the contract and Jordan. said he's being selfish even though I. might agree with I ain't saying nobody's. gonna be self because I want everybody. get as much money as they can right. right so I'm not gonna say that but I'm. just saying I'm not saying Joy I just. think that Scotty's it was was surprised. that Jordan took the stance that he took. and said what he said that's fair but I. will tell you this Jordan wasn't only. the star of the show he was also an. executive yeah so we all know that.

that's number one yeah. it's an important component to bring up. number two and more importantly. you got to remember that was in the. aftermath of him turning down the. contract and then being bitter about it. you're right I'm sorry taking the money. rather my interview about it right and. so you took the money that Jordan and. Ryan store potentially advised you not. to take right you ended up being bitter. about it and then was willing to let the. team suffer because you got to remember. where it's personal for Jordan if. you're a tight end which you are and.

your quarterback you say it yo bro. don't take this money because you don't. be bit about the contract he doesn't. listen to you right he takes the money. anyway then he's bitter about it later. on and refused to step on the field with. you leads you out there hanging by. yourself. you gonna have something to say whoa you. better tell me Jordan they win on them. championships by himself no no no no no. no no no I'm talking about this at the. time he complained oh I know at the time.

he complains yes at the time he was. complaining about Scotty being selfish. he was on the court without him but. that's what but he was like come on you. leaving me out here because of the. decision I told you not to make but you. didn't listen and you made it anyway but. I think you will agree that hurts Scotty. more than anything to hear Jordan say. that okay fair enough are we sure that. that's all that's hurting no there's. some other things that's going on behind. this there you go.

I didn't say what and I ain't gonna say. what I just asked you a relatively. rhetorical question that I know you know. the answer to yeah I think it's safe to. say that we all know yes other things. Scotty's a little shut about yes okay. okay you and what is it with you like. every time you say something you say my. sources say this right and it seem like. players go out of their way to try to. refute what you said on there well first. of all when your voice is potent and. it's gonna go viral right and it's going.

to resonate and they think it's gonna. compromise their brand that's what. they're gonna do. um I understand that I remember I'll. tell you a story one time. I had a coach. go up in front of reporters. Stephen A's wrong. I don't know what the hell he's talking. about I can't believe they even let him. report on the team blah blah blah blah. blah. and then walk by me and winked. because he did it because he didn't want.

people to know he was the one who gave. me the story. I've been a journalist for 30 years I. got sources all over the Sports World. right every single segment of every. single show I get text messages it's a. player it's a coach it's an executive. it's a player Personnel director in my. case sometimes it's owners because I. know quite a few right okay and so I. have sources all over the place does. that mean I'm always right absolutely. not what happens though is I never said.

I was I said this is what I was told. told and when you make that judgment. call what are you making the Judgment. call about I ain't making a call about. your personal life I ain't making a call. about something Ultra invasive or. whatever you know the other day when I. made the news about Lonzo right I'm like. this they say yo Stephen a name. they said sometimes it's like it's hard. for him to stand to stand up from the. sit position in the chair. all right I heard the same thing on.

several occasions. well two years ago you missed 42 games. due to injury the next season you missed. the entire season this season's coming. up the team announced think about this. the team announced in June that he would. be available before the new year think. about that right so I'm going like this. you gonna literally sit poolside and hop. up and down on a chair from a seating. position when you done missed 48 of your.

games in just your fourth or fifth year. in your career brother you clearly are. not healthy okay you want to get literal. with it right maybe I shouldn't have. said or whatever that's what they ain't. playing basketball but you ain't exactly. so I'm like really that's what you want. to refute and I like Lonzo got nothing. against them but I have nothing against. his daddy whatever the case may be but I. would say to you go back to the days. when I've covered I was a beat writer. for the Philadelphia 76ers and I'm. covering Allen Iverson and Beyond I've. been a journalist for 30 years I was a. beat writer for 10. I was a general.

Sports columnist for another seven or. eight I've been around and so there's. been plenty of times when people have. refuted what I've said and then years. later come to find out I was telling the. truth all along you go ahead and you. denied that I remember one time I had a. player I'm in Saint Thomas this is where. my family's from and if you go to St. Thomas it's a spot called Red Hook and. red because where you going you take the. boat from Saint Thomas to St John's it's. only a 15-minute boat ride and I'm. literally docking away from Red Hood.

going into the ocean I get a call I'm. one out and they're saying I'm lying I'm. like what the hell do you care you. already told them you leaving is hurting. my brand. and you realize how a lot of cats are. thinking they're thinking about their. social media following they're thinking. about the connections that they have. they're thinking about how that's going. to be parlayed in the monetary value for. themselves down the line and how I could. be compromised and so when you see these. denials let's say you say all right it. makes sense I got it I'll leave it alone.

but my attitude is I'm not giving you a. death sentence and I'm not talking about. your personal business right I'm talking. about relatively obvious stuff calm the. hell down and stop making it bigger than. what it is right and you'll be fine. right. the conversation that I saw I saw a. little bit of it about where Steph Curry. I think on Gilbert Arenas agent zeros. podcast said he's the greatest point. guard yeah. you agreed or disagreed I agreed but I. was mistaken and the reason why I say I.

was mistaken is because what I wanted to. elaborate on is when you're talking. about a typical quintessential point. guard you're talking about a facilitator. right Magic Johnson's greatest ever yeah. there's no question right what I was. talking about was impact from the. position right and to me Steph Curry's. Marksmanship. combined with his ability to move. without the ball puts a defensive head. on a swivel and as a result of that. because of the panic he creates because. of his extraordinary Marksmanship you.

have to pay wrapped attention to him you. can't afford to really pay attention to. anybody else right and that to me is a. similar impact to Magic Johnson's. ability to get to the basket throw no. look passes and especially Magic Johnson. in the open quarter and a fast break but. if you put Magic Johnson in the half. court setting he backs you down right he. throws the ball to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. right open court is Worthy is Byron. Scott as Cooper you know I'm saying this. stuff like that pick your poison I was.

talking about impact I wasn't talking. about a quintessential facilitator. that's the point guard because Steph. Curry is clearly not that because that's. what I'm saying I don't really look I. look at Steph as a two like I understand. that because all these got new age guys. fame Lillard uh Steph Curry all these. guys are two guards masquerading they. just they're not the point guard I'm. looking to point guard like magic like. John Stockton right Jason Kidd Mark. Jackson when I think part point guard. right that's what I think I got you we. agree we agree we agree I mean listen.

Magic Johnson is so phenomenal and. Michael Jordan's been arguing with me. about this about because Magic Johnson's. the greatest in his eyes as well so you. know what I'm saying it's one of those. and ain't no change in that dude's man. yeah Michael Jordan's my hand and then. you ain't got no snowball chance in hell. but but but he's right and and Eddie. Johnson does NBA Radio he's absolutely. right he was talking about a Mad Dog. Russo a historian he was talking about. he was absolutely right we know that as. a your pastor Magic Johnson is the. greatest facilitator the game has ever. seen right but I'm saying as an impact.

you can talk about Steph Curry being the. two guard but I would tell you he has. the ball in the hands enough the offense. runs through him and the impact his. Marksmanship creates. creates just as much Havoc as Magic. Johnson created and that's all I was. trying to say which is why even though. if you're taught them about a. prototypical point guard you would pick. others before him if you're talking. about impact it's him and Magic Johnson. yeah oh we're doing no questions. there's no denying that exactly when you.

look at LeBron let's take LeBron and you. you were covering the NBA when LeBron. got in yeah. I said LeBron is overachieved because no. matter what you thought he might be. ain't nowhere in hell you thought he. would be this good Stephen A no I didn't. that's why I got him number two all the. time LeBron James is one of the greatest. ever do it and listen we're gonna miss. him when he's gone I can sit up there. and I can have my basketball decisions.

as a Michael Jordan one him two but I. got to tell you man I got so much love. and respect for LeBron and a lot of. people they misconstrue you know what I. mean by that when I say I got love for a. brother that I barely know because it's. not like I talk to him every day or. whatever even though we called you to. one another no nine. I'm saying I appreciate who you are and. what you've meant yes to our community. to basketball. to young men particularly young black.

men everywhere this dude is phenomenal. man and and to be a guy that was on the. cover of Sports Illustrated and the only. blemish in his entire career is that I'm. taking my talents to South Beach that is. literally the only stain yeah on his. career and he raised money for the boys. and girls I mean it's ridiculous a. businessman extraordinaire yeah actor he. did a great job he didn't think I'm. joking when I put the ticket great. acting great because because you know we. so sensitive about LeBron James actually. had a ticket created for first take.

great actor great computer. I was gonna be there for you it's gonna. be there when you bring him outside can. we get it out the way because I want to. make sure he knows I recognize all the. greatness about him listen to movie. train wreck did you see what he did he. was great yeah he was great he did a. great job you know we went he was. fantastic you know I got it but the. point is is that the dude is phenomenal. on a multitude of levels and what he has. done for us as black people in this.

nation in terms of his business Acumen. his commitment to Excellence you know. this brother takes care of his body he's. always in shape I mean I looked at he's. the reason that I got mad at Anthony. Davis last year because I'm looking at. Anthony Davis you you know this brother. vouch for you right you know this. brother. his name on a line for you right I know. you I know you got him the ring in the. bubble but you understand it don't stop. there right how is he in better shape. than you how is he more focused and.

dedicated than you could you take your. ass over his house and and and mimic his. workout use his trainer use his. nutritionist do something and you. understand I'm like it's like come on. now look man. I'm gonna do some more push-ups bro. that's what I'm saying I'm gonna change. my diet even more yeah I Ain't Gonna Let. You Down bro I'm not I'm not gonna be.

sitting across from me with him with his. fitness facility in Louisiana and all of. this other stuff and I'ma roll around. with a belly and looking all set oh no. no it ain't going down like that it. ain't going down like that I'm gonna be. in shape bro I've been getting the shape. I already lost some pounds my body fat. in half I did all that but what I'm. gonna I'll never be the the black hole. that you are I ain't trying to do that. but you ain't gonna look at me and go. like this damn he need to get in the gym.

he ain't in shape Stephen I ain't gonna. do that I ain't gonna do it I'm gonna. bring the day you got molly sitting in. the middle and stuff like that you. sitting across from me I'm like and I'm. looking shabby now it ain't going down. like that and I'm looking at Anthony. Davis like ain't there's nothing inside. of you that said yeah that you know I. need to be in shape right you gonna drop. 41 games and 11 the next come on bro. yeah come on bro you you know it's like. you looking at LeBron and I I literally.

I almost went on the air and was like. you know LeBron I'm sorry. I felt that bad for you because I'm like. in his 20th year. in the league. he's in better shape and he the best. player and he actually don't want to be. he actually wishes you were in better. shape he actually wishes you with a. better player which you are when you. bring your A game right but it's. sporadic because of a lack of dedication. in my opinion I don't know that right. but I'm like wouldn't you think that.

yeah if you were LeBron you're like wait. a minute what's up missing you ain't. doing something right bro I'm almost 10. years more in the league with more wear. and tear come on man come on man and you. in LA and you know this because you've. been out here you live out here now. I like a different flavor you know you. got to be disciplined to be out yeah you. can't you you you you can't easily. locate the distraction I mean they are. easy to find yeah there's distractions. well that's the thing with disciplines.

it requires you to do your best to know. what you think no one is watching you go. there you go you know what I'm saying. listen when I'm in L.A bro. I don't come outside until I finish my. workout other than First Take I won't. come outside until I finish my workout. because I know once I get outside. it's gonna be a while before I get back. I'm just not going without you here. because I'm just not I'm just not going. I'm just not you know what I'm saying. you know. that's right we're gonna be hey we're. gonna be in the gym together.

listen you want to you want a meme that. people will be laughing at me for the. next two decades have me in the gym with. Shannon sharp come on man yeah because. you know what I'm saying that's like. that's like the rock standing next to. Snoop Dogg we ain't doing that we had to. Snoop is my dog you know you know I love. you baby you know I love you know I mean. come on now I ain't doing that I'm not. getting in the gym with you you're gonna. work out huh just one workout I'm gonna. work out every listen I work out you. know what I might do that I might imma.

wait a few months though I'ma wait a few. months I'm not gonna do that just yet. okay Dane yeah man and James Harden. situation yes sir Dame is you know he's. look he sold James Harden get fined a. hundred thousand for calling Daryl Mori. a liar he's like I ain't so. what what's your take on those. situations. well. when I think about Dane it's more. sensitive for me. because Dame could have demanded out on.

several occasions and he never did and. it's Portland it ain't like he didn't. demand out of LA on Miami right he. didn't demand out of port right okay and. he was never gonna get anybody to come. to Portland he was never gonna get. anybody he's going to come to Portland. so now that he's been there a decade and. he's like it's time. look out for the brother now now should. he have handled it a tad bit differently. in terms of all right. shouldn't have said just Miami try to.

work behind the scenes to get this done. maybe he shouldn't have done that right. but the bottom line is he's giving. Portland everything he's had right and. you know you moving in a different. direction you draft your number the. third overall pick is in school. Henderson play your position come on. y'all get it done you know and so that's. how I feel I support Dame on that. James hard is a different animal and I. like James. but James got to be more accountable you. got everything you want they gave you.

everything but a pacifying the bib in. Houston wherever you wanted they gave me. they did everything money helicopter. rides massage therapist masseuse hang at. the strip club whenever you wanted. everything go to Vegas whatever you want. me they gave you everything and there. are more we took care of you right to. the point where Mike the Antonio didn't. even show negative players of James. Harden when James Harden was in the film. room he sure about everybody else. wouldn't even show him in the film room. this is me covering the NBA I'll tell. you what I know then you force your way. out you want to go to Philly because you. want to go with Daryl Moore you want to.

follow him there but they say no so you. want to go to Brooklyn they tell you no. initially you show up to camp out of. shape you make it very very clear that. you ain't trying to do anything because. you're trying to get the hell out of. town so they ultimately trade you to. Brooklyn you get in Brooklyn they you. force your way out of there because you. want to go with Daryl Moore in Philly. which is where you want to go all along. now although we can't absolve Daryl. Moore if you lie to the man you lied. today ain't nobody giving ain't nobody. blaming 20 million.

that's right you know if you told him. that you owe him that correct fit period. but. why is anybody going to be sympathetic. to James Harden with what James Harden. has done on three separate occasions. right and now you're doing it a fourth. and you got to remember when he was in. Houston. I want the white Howard. I don't want Dwight Howard. Carmelo Anthony don't want Carmelo. Anthony I want CP3 I don't want CP3 I. want Russ I don't want Russ.

and not one single Championship to show. for it. it ain't like you a champion making. these demands you getting paid you're a. show stopper we get it but you have no. championships to show for any of your. efforts at some point in time somebody. got to be willing to say to you yo can. you give me a little bit more oh by the. way don't get me started we'll close our. games in the playoffs yeah we just saw. what you did in the game seven nine. points three for 11 shooting and a game.

seven closeout game against Boston you. had them for game six you were up 3-2 on. your home turf in Philadelphia and look. what happened those are the kind of. things that I'm talking about and so. when something like that happens man. it it I can't support that right I can I. can like him and be cool with him but I. can't support those some of the. decisions that he can't do it what's. Katie's Legacy going to be what's Kevin. Durant's Legacy gonna be because I think. Stephen A he was up 3-1 on the Golden.

State Warriors He's up 3-1 on a 73 win. team. lose game five lose game six lose game. seven and in games five and six and. seven of games five and six he shot the. ball terrible yeah I will tell you this. I think that Kevin Durant is one of the. greatest players that I've ever seen. but when I saw. how things materialized in Brooklyn.

and then he went to Phoenix and got. bounced out in the second round of. Denver. what I said was. I can't put them above LeBron. I used to look at him in his offensive. Arsenal and think that. but what I realized is that I'm not. showing enough respect and appreciation. to the leadership. that LeBron has exerted and exhibited. LeBron has been the face of every.

franchise he's been on. um. even though D Wade was that lead in. Miami. um. and when you look at LeBron. what he had to deal with with Kyrie. you know what he had to deal with when. he arrived in La what he had to deal. with with all the vitriol AIMS in this. direction or in Miami and stuff like. that. mental toughness ultimately leadership. accountability you know of course as. years in Cleveland of course when you.

look at all of these things. he showed an ability to deal with things. Kevin Durant did not right Kevin Durant. is a phenomenal player a good brother. really authentic in a lot of ways I got. a lot of love for him. um he is a two-time champion the. two-time NBA Finals MVP weekends I don't. care that he's playing with the Golden. State Warriors he averaged 35. he was. the MVP balled out you know he showed. his greatness but the problem that I. would tell you that was really put on. display in Brooklyn.

he needed to be a leader. but he doesn't want that he's already. told you that and that's the difference. LeBron wants it LeBron wants to be the. leader right LeBron accepts it you know. you know Kyrie is Kyrie and you know I'm. not here to I'm not gonna throw no Shea. me and Kyrie have had eye issues that. stuff has been resolved but the point is. is that at the end of the day. Kyrie. that is somebody that Kevin Durant if he. were that leader had to reel in right by.

simply saying man I'll bump all this we. try to win the chip right Kyrie doesn't. hurt his ankle against Milwaukee in the. playoffs Brooklyn might have won it all. right because I think they win that. Series against Milwaukee and I think. they could have beaten Phoenix I mean. it's just that simple to me and so when. I'm looking at it from that perspective. I'm just saying to myself you Kevin. Durant. it's about living and let living and. live and I'll do my job right now it's. about making sure that the ultimate job.

is to try to win the chip right and. letting nothing stand in the way of that. if you want a football field Ray Lewis. might have been the leader. you ain't gonna be quiet if you see Cats. blowing your opportunity to win the. Super Bowl championship you're gonna be. like yo and I remember when Isaiah. Thomas the great Isaiah Thomas two-time. Champion Hall of Fame and Isaiah Thomas. was arguing with me one time about Kyrie. and I said to him it was over the. vaccine thing and I said I'ma end this. conversation right now Z by one simple.

question. if a member of the Detroit Pistons that. was such an integral part of your. Championship hopes took that position. what would you have done Isaiah started. laughing he said as a team we had to. snatched his ass up we had sat him down. tied him up and we had injected the. into myself he said now you might have. been mad at us he might be mad at us. right but we would have done it done it. right I said I rest my case right all. I'm saying is is that at the end of the.

day we trying to win and anything that. gets in the way of that is secondary. right to that actually be in the. priority that's all I'm saying and I. think Kevin Durant should have had that. attitude and I don't think he did you. look at the West the Nuggets won the. Championships I like Nicola jokic I. think he's one of the two best players. in all of basketball yeah you got. Phoenix this is a year uh book and KD. together yeah uh uh Bradley Bill Joy. yeah you got the Warriors CP3 what's is. going to be his role in that situation.

the Lakers of Anthony Davis is healthy I. like that they they have depth Austin. Reeves I like them I like them. what's how's the West gonna shake it. first of all we always root for the. Lakers because they're in Southern. California I mean we you know if you ask. me do I want to go to San Francisco L.A. is La all day every day twice on Sundays. so so just for my own personal. preferences yeah it's always la la Miami. is my dream scenario that's why I was so. miserable doing covert because the one. time I wanted to get my dreams.

I was so depressed I was so depressed. but I'll tell you this um. I don't believe in Anthony Davis in. terms of his availability I'm not. talking about his skill set I'm not. talking about whether he cares or not. I'm talking about. injury-prone sporadic there's something. going on with him where instead of. talking about me getting in the gym you. need to be talking to him to get in the. gym because he's just up and down it's.

like it's like it's like this brother. sat up there and ate a healthy meal one. day and then ate a bag of Skittles the. next and it's the this Plumbing you know. what I'm saying I don't understand it. and I can't have faith in that I think. they'll make the playoffs I think. they'll be formidable. I dismissed the clippers because I just. don't believe that Kawhi Leonard will. ever be healthy I just don't believe it. well Paul George is Miss damage as much. time I agree with you that's totally. totally true. uh I remember I just saw the numbers. recently I think Paul George misses. about 38 of his games requires at 48 so.

I think it's around that uh Paul George. talking about he gonna play bully ball. and all that so we'll see you know what. I'm saying especially if he's talking to. him and Devin Booker was going back and. forth I got to see that because I know. Devin book is coming yeah he that dude. yeah Devin Booker spirit and I'm talking. about his mentality yeah he ain't scared. of nothing he coming for you so I. definitely respect that and we're gonna. see what bill and KD do together as well. Phoenix to me should be the favorites. um you look at Denver uh they're. obviously formidable and you got that. cohesiveness so I would tell you a.

rematch between Denver and Phoenix and. all likelies at the Conference Finals as. opposed to the divisional playoff rounds. semi-finals rather we'll see that but. that's what comes to my mind I don't. expect much from Dallas even though. Anthony Edwards is on the rise I don't. expect much from Minnesota I don't. expect much from so that was to me they. don't have the personality do you think. do you think Minnesota should not run. the team through Anthony Edwards as. opposed to cat yes yeah I agree I agree. totally I think that Anthony Edwards is. one of those dudes he's one of those. dudes he's coming and and I I feel that.

way but I definitely think that when you. look at the two teams I would look at. Phoenix and Denver. and then I would look at the Lakers and. Clippers on the outside on the come up. right that's how I view the West. you didn't mention the Grizzlies. obviously the job situation hopefully I. think they'll people I should have. mentioned the Grizzlies they're. appealing here's 25 game suspension so. I'm under the assumption that it's gonna. stick let's just say for the sake for. this argument it's going to stick it's. gonna stick you've been outspoken yep.

I've been very outspoken and I don't. know John but if I can sit down I just. think he was I just thought he was. moving in a direction that wasn't. conducive to accomplish what he really. really wanted to accomplish that's been. an outstanding basketball player be a. brand the job brand being one of the. faces of the NBA. I agree with you what. if there's some advice you could give. him I don't know how well you know his. dad I don't I don't I've met him both. once. um John's a great player guys phenomenal.

and I think that John. is going to come back with a vengeance. you know I really really believe he's. going to come back with Adventures he's. going to wreak havoc. um and I love the acquisition of Marcus. Smart I got Boston by the way as my. favorite overall really yes I do wow I. think porzingis at 7-3 with the ability. to step away from the basket and shoot. combined with Tatum and Brown still. keeping Al Horford okay and Robin. Williams in the mix with a Derek with a. Derrick White with a Malcolm brogd in.

the reign of Sixth Man of the Year I. think when you look at their depth the. athleticism their perimeter shooting. their ability to defend the fact that. Missoula has a year under his belt. coaching the team I think all of those. things bode well for Boston they've been. knocking on the door long enough you. Jaylen Brown you just solved for 300. million dollars you damn well better. show up and if you and if you Jason. Tatum who's in line for about 360. million you damn well better show up and. so I'm gonna assume that they will but I. think Mark is smart losing him. um it'll be felt to some degree but I.

definitely think it's going to help men. this immensely right and I think that. you know and I think that and you get. big Steven Adams back and Clark and. people don't realize Adams and Clark. being gone Lakers don't beat them like. that if Adams and Clark are healthy that. just doesn't happen right because Adams. and Clark are no joke and so I take that. into consideration as well having said. all of that. um I'm not sure they're shooting. collectively right okay so that concerns. me I think they're sporadic defensively.

that concerns me I think their coaching. concerns me to some degree so I look at. Memphis but in terms of my advice to job. it's this man. some people you got to leave behind. and I don't mean cut them off. like you don't know them right I don't. mean cut them off like you can't be with. them but I'll give you a perfect example. brothers that I grew up with in Queens. New York. half of them are dead because you know.

the drug game was real prevalent and I. was blessed that I was never a part of. it but most of my friends were. and you know I got a couple of I got a. couple of brothers that. you know did some time. and. I'll always look out for them I'll. always have love for them. Shannon they can't hang with me no. they can't hang with me you're not. coming to work with me you're not coming. to a game with me that's not happening. now I see a neighborhood what's up how.

you doing you need me for anything. what's up what you need I can help you. I'm more happy to do that so I'm not. talking about ostracizing you. but the NBA is your business. what happened with John Moran costing. about 60 million dollars 60 million. dollars you ain't getting that bad no no. matter how much money you get you ain't. getting that back and so for me you know. what his dad look. I'm a father you're a father. here's the deal.

I know you can't tell your son literally. tell him what to do he's a grown-up. right. but certain things he don't need to be. doing right in front of you correct. you'd have grown up. you dead and you are not supposed to be. trying to live the life he live in. you know what I'm saying y'all made it. and you're gonna make it even more and. so it's not to cast The spursions. Assault them denigrate them in any way. who wouldn't root for John Moran who. ain't rooting for him to succeed I don't.

know anybody today. but how are we helping you if we see you. doing stuff that we know could. potentially lead to your downfall and we. say nothing are we really trying to help. you if we say nothing no we're not. trying to help you and that's why we say. something because we want you to correct. the errors so you can rise and prosper. and live your life I don't know what you. feel about this but I said this at the. time the 75th Anniversary I said Anthony.

Davis shouldn't have made it over Dwight. Howard right Stan Van Gundy said you. can't make a case to say it's Anthony. Davis career has been better than Dwight. Howard. what's your take on that I kind of agree. um Anthony Davis was a prolific scorer. but at the end of the day he wasn't. relevant until he arrived to the Lakers. with LeBron correct Dwight Howard was a. three-time defensive player of the year. extraordinary shot blocker and a racer.

um was never the offensive player that. Anthony Davis. but certainly was just as impactful yes. and more successful because he was on a. squad that Anthony Davis won a. championship with as a reserve right. which means he's got a ring too right. and so you offset that and now look at. their careers yeah even though the. talent that is Anthony Davis I consider. to be better than the White House right. the impact of your career is not greater.

than that of Dwight Howard Dwight Howard. took a team to the NBA finals yes he did. in his prime he's one of the five best. players in the NBA absolutely absolutely. so I can't disagree with that I can't. disagree I can say Anthony Davis is a. better Talent yes but it also highlights. what you must not be doing right because. a lesser talent that is Dwight Howard. was more impactful than you were right. players under 25. you got Luca JT Trey. young Zion Anthony Edwards you know what.

Zion because you've been very I've been. very outspoken Stephen that you know I. I'm a nutritional guy uh I'm I'm in the. bodies and I said he's just too big. right I said y'all cheap oh you. don't know what's going on I say bro the. man is 300 plus I can tell he's not. eating the way he should in order to. maximize too many burgers but you know. you you know in New Orleans eating gumbo. and etouffee and jambalaya everything. yeah. so what.

how do we get Zion to understand because. I think the greatest person that he. needs to sit down and have an hour-long. conversation with is Charles Barkley. he's a more athletic Charles Barkley. I just gotta be honest. I don't think he cares enough. wow I don't think he cares enough. I'm not saying he doesn't care. I'm not talking about Cameron I'm. talking about that fire the passion.

that is to end all Beyond because I. believe he's in a market he don't want. to be. I said that I believe if he was in New. York or someplace where he really really. wanted to be. we see a more dedicated Zion to his. physicality. and the point is is that I don't know. that to be sure. but you can't walk around as big as he. is no and tell me you dedicated right. you can't you can't because even when. you're when you're restricted in terms.

of your Mobility you know what you'll do. you'll eat less and you'll eat better. because you'll fear bloating no you'll. feel blowing up and not being ready when. called upon once you healed right that. hasn't been the case because if you. leave the game if you eating bad while. you're active and running up and down. the court what the hell you think you're. gonna eat when you can't run up and down. the court that's right so now the 30. pounds that you took off because you was. healthy and athletic and running up and. down the court you better put 50 back on. exactly and that's exactly how I feel.

and because of that again I love Zion's. game. um I believe he's a potential superstar. in this league he's something to behold. but. I think it's fair to question his. commitment to his conditioning right and. if you question somebody's commission. you know commitment to conditioning you. question whether or not they care and. that's really what it comes down to. right we've talked about players under. 25 Luca Jason Tatum Trey young Zion. Anthony Edwards lamello shaegill just D.

fox or Jordan Poole I'm gonna give you. one guy of all those guys I mentioned. who you taking. a lot of people would say Luca. I'm gonna say Jason Taylor. Jason Tatum six nine. they said shoot the three. I saw Jason Tatum drop 46 in a closeout. playoff game six in Milwaukee I saw. Jason Tatum handle his business in a. game seven. seen a young Jason Tatum who ain't even. 27 years of age yet.

be a primary option on a team that's. going to five Conference Championship. games of Championship Series in an NBA. finals. I I just look at them and I say and not. only that we just talk about. conditioning there have been times where. we've looked at Luca and we've said. he ain't in shape he's getting in shape. right the season progressives correct we. look at Jason Tatum from day one and say. he's in shape.

right that matters to me I will go with. Jason Taylor. Andre Iguodala says. the player with the mentality is closest. to Kobe Bryant is Jimmy Butler. you agree with that. closest to Kobe Bryant is Jimmy Butler. as far as mentality. you could say that I would beg to differ. who you like Devin Booker. Jimmy Butler works. but the difference between Jimmy Butler.

and Devin Booker. is Jimmy Butler doesn't care that much. about offense until the postseason. arrives right Kobe cared about it all. the time yeah and Devin Booker cares. about it right all the time right they. coming out. looking for their shot from open and to. people. Jimmy Butler sometimes you literally. feel like you got to throw something at. him just to make him shoot the. basketball right he does it's not a. priority for him and that is why I would. say no on that Kobe comparison not much.

is known about Stephen A's private life. yep you like myself are very very. private yep. how have you been able to maintain that. level of privacy. um number one. I'm quick to sell somebody to mind their. damn business you know and that's a kind. way of putting it. um. and I will cancel a woman in a heartbeat. that talks about my business. she utters my name what. publicly.

about us she gone. I wouldn't have she happy for us I don't. care I don't care you know why. because. I want you to know who my woman is. when she's Mrs Smith I'm talking about. publicly right I'm not talking about you. know Shannon going Shannon gonna beat my. girl right you know Jamie's met monkey. you know I'm not talking about that yeah. I'm talking about announcing that you. see us and people talk oh no. let them talk you better not talk.

I will cancel you quicker than you so if. you can't so she can't post nothing on. IG never I would she wouldn't she. wouldn't make it to my crib. I'm not joking she wouldn't make it to. my crib she can live five minutes away. she'd be going by five five minutes I. don't play that because here's the thing. I'm in the public eye yes let me tell. you what the test what I detest and I've. never done this to another man it makes. me cringe when this happens to a man I. can't get over how these Stars be.

messing with somebody and then you with. somebody else well that's who you used. to mess with yeah nah they do that I. mean who you talking about it could be. an X I believe what you talking about. that's a friend I don't know what you're. talking about Stephen you Smith. that's what I don't know what you're. talking right ain't none of your. business right I'm not I'm not doing. that okay you know when she Mrs Smith. you'll know who she is right until that. time I might have messed with her I. might not have messed with her you'll. never know right I don't do that and I.

can't stand when we see people out here. like sharing their information and you. know it's on Instagram and Twitter grown. ass men and women when did everybody. when did your business become everybody. else's business I don't I don't Vibe. with that I have no no patience with. that and anybody who knows it and I mean. anybody who knows me they'll tell you. right now I live in L.A five minutes. from where we are they wouldn't make it.

to my crib being my woman if I saw. something on social media that was. initiated by them about me they out I. wouldn't hesitate I have been that way. my entire adult life and I will never. change when in that regard I could be. getting ready to get married dog wedding. called off so it was on the weekend with. me so it was all working with me it was. always your it was always says once you. got into the public eye was to be. private pre-pro absolutely it's not. everybody's business it's not. everybody's business look I know people.

business I you see me I'm on TV I'm a. professional journalist I challenge. anybody. to talk about Stephen a talking about. their personal private business yeah now. if you're walking out in public and. putting everything on display and all of. that all right that's fine you know what. I'm saying I just talk about Megan. Gooding to find that stuff the other day. okay I get it you understand I mean. she's been fine for years you know I. mean I got it yeah you know stuff like. that but you don't hear me talking about. people's private business I don't do it.

right I don't and I never ever will. I read where your daughters don't like. when people come up to you and ask for. autographs when they're in your presence. oh. my Lord Hey listen man do they have a. social media presence. a little bit but I I I try to monitor it. and you know I leave that to their mom. but I will tell you this. for me. oh my God being a dad for daughters.

it's the greatest blessing. and the worst curse. because. the blessing is you didn't know what. love is until they you thought you knew. what love was and then they came along. the curse is. you didn't know what love is until they. came along so you never had peace you're. always worried you're worried about. everything you worry about everything. and and they they did Daddy's you know. daughters so they like me from the. standpoint like.

first of all I'm not that special I'm. just dad what is so big about you I mean. please why why yeah all you do is talk. on television I mean you can't it's our. Lord can we hurry up please what do they. want your autograph for I mean but then. they get attitude because it's like. they're taking our time right hurry up. right like literally right and it's like. and I knew I knew from the time my. daughters was like seven eight years old. I came home and I had to do I had to get.

to Dallas. I was supposed to go from La straight to. Dallas. I literally. flew home on the red eye. just to take them to school and to give. them a hug and a kiss and. I took them to school they were all. happy and bouncing around and all that. stuff in the children's school and I. said okay um daddy gotta go they're like. what. I was like this. eyes probably. i i i they they got to go to work right.

in Dallas. cry and the teachers like just go just. go right and I'll get on get on the road. I'm going to the airport and I call the. school to speak to and they like could. you call back later they they don't want. to talk to you right now and I'm like. this is seven eight years old right. that's like and I knew then my life's. over it belongs to them they run my life. right so I squeeze in things for me. right but they're the generals that's.

how it goes do do your kids watch your. kids are there at the age now they. understand what you're doing yeah so. they understand what you do yes they. know who they know who dad is that's. right that's right and they see me lied. on a lot because a lot of times I've. been accused of saying something or. doing something that ain't no better. well I was accused of being some place. like Daddy you was with us you know but. but it's like it is what it is they. understand it and I tell them it's about. tough skin right you can't overreact to.

everything you either understand when. you're in the public eye people gonna. lie on you all the time they're gonna. invade your privacy they're gonna. instigate stuff they're willing they're. looking to provoke a reaction and I. can't give it to them because if I do. then I Take debate and it can jeopardize. what I'm trying to build right and so. you explain those things to them and you. hope that they understand. what advice would you give a young. journalist because you know the the. newspaper business is not what it was. when you got into it. um everybody gets their you know because. it's so instantaneous now Stephen A you.

got social media yep so now ain't nobody. just sitting there watching uh the six. o'clock news and ain't nobody just just. reading the newspaper right so what. advice would you give young Germans. first of all understand that. everything feeds off of information. you've got to be about the business of. acquiring Intel and information because. that means you have something to talk. about you have something to write about. you have something to express opinions. about whether it be via radio television. podcast newspaper magazines.com whatever.

whatever content is King right content. will never go anywhere how people are. receiving that content is what has. changed linear television was once here. now it's dissipating before our very. eyes there's some people that are. projecting within the next decade. YouTube will be more popular than some. of the networks right if not already and. so you have to take that into. consideration that's Point number one. point number two is that you're trying. to build something build a brand know. who you are know what you stand for.

recognize what gravitates folks towards. you and what doesn't and that's how you. go about the business of building. something number three master your. business you got to know what you're. talking about you got to know what you. want to do a lot of people want a. podcast well do you know what comes with. the podcast it ain't just a microphone. in the camera there's a production team. that get that's behind the scenes. there's a sales and marketing angle. um there's a sales angle that comes with. it a marketing angle that comes with it. a technological angle that comes with it.

there's people operating these cameras. you know you know these microphones yeah. making sure the audio is Right Etc how. much is that going to cost okay what. level of course comes with it okay one. of the things that I would give advice. to a lot of students want to come up no. matter what major you take minor in. business because everything comes down. to business now you've got to be about. the business of knowing what your. business entails that way you know how. to do business you know what you're. negotiating you have an idea what it. entails you know when you've made. mistakes and how to pick up on that I.

started my own podcast months ago I've. made a lot of mistakes why because I. never had a podcast correct I had to. learn through osmosis but I put myself. through that fire initially on purpose. so when it grew as it's been growing. then I'm in a position to now make the. proper decisions because I use that you. know that that infancy period to really. learn and gain knowledge about the. industry how much it's going to cost. what my losses and my profits look like. etc etc all of those things are things.

that you have to know because the. business itself that used to exist is no. longer now they're looking for you to. bring your business to them Shannon. sharp you own your own podcast Club Shay. over a million followers doing your. thing proud of you my brother keep doing. your thing no doubt you got to keep. doing that right you own and operate. your business and there's people around. you that's working for you so you're. gonna be attractive because you're. bringing a business to a potential. Network right to buy to lease to.

etc etc they don't want to just employ. people anymore they don't want to deal. with that overhead right they don't want. to deal with the expenses that come with. the overhead they want you to deal with. that now. McAfee the deal he just signed with ESPN. you got so many people hating on them. shut up all of y'all shut up yeah the. man had his own business he spent years. developing his own business betting on. himself just like you bet on yourself. just like I'm betting on myself correct. I just started betting on myself because. I was hindered contractually and I had a.

lot of obstacles to overcome in my. career before I could get to this point. although this was always the vision I. had to start late this is what comes. with it when you know those things you. become a business and that's Jay-Z would. say I'm not a businessman I'm a business. man and that's what people want to see. I'm gonna get you out of here on this. one yeah we both work with skip yeah um. you work with him I think a little. longer than I have and we both have. given him credit for opening up his. platform and allowing us to be who we.

are and we could grow our own platforms. become as you mentioned earlier. businesses of ourselves what's what's. for the people I don't know how many. people have heard and I'm gonna follow. up after you sure. skip what's what's he really like. because I think the thing is if you've. never met him you just see him on. television you say okay that's him and. who he is Skip's a different Beast I. don't I don't know if you can just. describe him in one simple way you can. you can. um this dude's definition of advice is. Diet Mountain Dew.

um this dude was in the 60s and in the. 70s running anywhere from five to eight. miles a day. um eating the same meals for breakfast. lunch and dinner. um introducing himself to his now wife. and their first date you will never be. more important than my job get over that. from now or don't bother I mean that's. his definition of turning her on I guess. so I'm like I'm just like that's he's a. different animal right um you know and.

there are highs and lows that come with. him correct um he knows that his highs. and lows that come with me there's highs. and lows that come with you and. everybody absolutely and that's the way. it goes but you know I I'm a man first. and it's about a core decency of. appreciation the reality is is that no. matter how problematic and he can be. problematic at times no matter how. problematic he can be. the reality is is that I wouldn't be.

where I am today if he didn't give me. that opportunity on first take and so. for me to be where I am and to know that. it's spring it's springboards off of. something that he was directly involved. in making happen. for me to insult him in any way. is just disrespectful it's wrong and. it's something that I will never do now. that don't mean I can't disagree with. him oh absolutely that doesn't mean that. I can't feel that he's wrong and anybody.

like a Jamie Harwich yourself and others. who know me have gotten to know me in. your case you know I would tell him he's. wrong to his face right he knows where I. stand. um but it doesn't take away my love and. appreciation for him and the fact that. he will always be a brother from another. mother to me yeah so I've always made. that clear with everybody yeah it's not. often that someone can give you that. opportunity and uh I I and I've said. this several times for me I cannot let.

six months ruin six and a half good. years right. because sometimes people are willing to. throw everything away for one mistake. for one bad comment or one something. like this right and even though uh that. was all we were supposed to get my. sister tells me this all the time say. Shannon this was all we're supposed to. get if I am. about five four months ago I had Tabitha. Brown. great I've interviewed her before she's. fantastic Stephen A. she had no idea this was going on so we. wrapped the interview and I'm gonna end. it on this one and I'm taking out my.

microphone she says uh is the max off I. said well I'm taking my mic off you can. take yours off we took our mics off and. she leans in close to me and she said. I had a dream last night. God told me it's gonna be okay and for. you to go ahead and do what you need to. do she says it's going to be different. but you need to go on your own yeah now. God told me that she said now you do. what you want to do with it right but. God just she says and when I get dreams.

like this and I'm ever in the person's. presence it's my duty to tell them. a month later yeah. yeah and I'm like and I when she's. telling me this evening you see how you. looking at me I'm looking at her how you. know what's going on right she said God. told me this last night and it's funny. that I'm sitting here doing this NFL did. this interview with you and I needed to. tell you this. once you told me that I was at peace. because I'm racking my brain I'm like.

what did I do did I say something did I. offend somebody I mean I just I think. I'm doing a great job she said be at. peace with it yeah. and that's what I told you you did. that's what I told you because the. reality of the situation is that you. know I'm not going to apologize listen I. got a lot of friends over there all. right we all know that I know a lot of. people. um but that don't mean that what. happened to you is fair. plain and simple okay that ain't the end. of the world nope but it is what it is. yeah so you know to me it was just. important.

for us in this industry to stand up and. say yo. he's one of us. you can't let them go out like this and. that was it for me it was like it was. just that simple you go wherever you. want you want to come first take five. you want to go somewhere else fine. because I got my crew here first taken. I'm not trying to get rid of anybody you. know what I'm saying because I'm not. going to do this forever and when it's. time when it's my time of course my time. to go right and it's time for somebody. else to step up but as long as I'm here. my attitude was going to be listen the. people that have been a treasure and a.

tribute to this industry. are the people that I'm going to do all. that I can to remind folks this is what. they do I don't want to be one of those. dudes that I got these platforms First. Take and I got my podcast and I'm doing. the NBA Countdown and I got more stuff. coming down the line and everything like. that and all I'm talking about is what. I'm doing. as my job to highlight what everybody. else is doing you you one of the few. Stephen A because I know a lot of people.

they have could have opportunities to. help somebody but they want to be the. only ninja with money. I don't want that and I told you this. and I'll tell the audience that I told. you this I said you might be at first. take for one year you might be a first. take for years to come. it's my responsibility and I'm dead. serious it's a heart attack it's my. responsibility to make sure. that you are more successful with me. than you were before you arrived that's. what you told me that's my. responsibility and I'm gonna make sure.

it happens come hella high water we. ain't going down brother we only don't. know you know that new way you know. that's just the way it's going goat man. coming exactly. HBCU it's the Takeover I ain't trying to. lose no we don't I'm never about that. anybody that knows me anything about. that I don't mean no disrespect to. nobody I heard it but that's him. As Good As It Gets right here Stephen A. Smith Monday September 4th.

No Doubt. oh. my God.