On this episode, Stephen A. interviews ESPN analyst Brian Windhorst and TNT Analyst and Hall of Famer, Shaquille O’Neal. He also responds to Rashad McCants’ recent comments about Stephen A’s All-Time NBA great debate; has thoughts on GOP candidate Nikki Haley’s Civil War comments, and gives love to “General Hospital” on its seven Emmy wins.
On The Stephen A. Smith Show, Smith gives you his renowned point of view, breaking barriers beyond the world of sports, and tackling pertinent issues across entertainment, pop culture, society, business, and politics. Three times a week, you’ll hear his LIVE unfiltered opinions on the day’s biggest headlines as well as straight-shooting interviews with top celebrities, game-changers, and thought leaders across the societal arena.
The Stephen A. Smith Show is sure to entertain, inform, and motivate anyone who tunes in.
What’s up everybody Welcome to the latest edition of the Stephen A Smith show right here over the digital Airwaves of YouTube where I’m accustomed to coming to you at the very least three times a week I said at the very least as you can see I’m back in our home Studios
Right here so guess what I won’t just be taking your text messages at the end of the show I’ll be taking your call calls as well the number to call up is 888 SAS s533 that’s 888 72753 3 one more time 888 72753 03 as always I want to take a
Moment to acknowledge the love and support that you all have been giving me as my followers and subscribers it is now exceeded 448,000 on YouTube in the first nine and a half months of this show can thank y’all for the Love Enough keep it coming and I’m going keep on
Coming and please don’t forget to continue to like and follow the Stephen Smith show right here ontu YouTube just click the Bell to get notified of all of our new content and while you’re doing all of that please don’t forget to pick up a copy of my New York Times
Bestselling book straight shooter A Memoir of Second Chances and first takes now in paperback by the way you can go to straight shooter book.com to get yourself a copy today again I’ll be taking calls but obviously that’ll be after I get into the stuff that I need
To get into because somebody a former NBA player made news on a different podcast talking about me so I feel the need why run from it just address it head on you know recently I spoke on Allan Iverson’s thoughts that the great Kobe Bryant the Black Mamba uh should
Not be ahead of LeBron James on the all-time list as the greatest player in NBA history or number two to Michael Jordan and obviously they were people who took umbrage to that one of them was former NBA player Rashad MCC uh who expressed his opinions on what I said
When he appeared on Gilbert aras’s podcast listen listen to what Rashad MCC had to say so when I hear Stephen A going off on these rants about how Kobe Bryan is not this and not that you didn’t have that energy when he was here where was that energy when he was
Alive and stop bringing this man who passed to extend your narrative yeah why would why would Kobe be in the conversation for you to kill him off so LeBron can live higher than him it don’t make no sense let the man rest let keep him wherever everyone has him
If you got him one you got him two you got them three we don’t need nobody trying to push him down push him away so somebody else can be elevated LeBron gonna be LeBron yeah Mike gonna be Mike we’ve been comparing Kobe Mike forever Here Comes Le Brien okay join
The conversation my but don’t be trying to diminish my man’s name yeah like he wasn’t that guy couple of things Rashad mcc’s first daughter of business respectfully you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about you don’t have a goddamn clue period you don’t know so let me educate
You number one if you going to quote me quote me accurately the receipts are there I have never nor would I ever diminish the Black Mamba that’s number one number two I didn’t have the energy when he was here Kobe was a friend of
Mine I told Kobe to his face when he was alive because I’ve been calling LeBron number two to Michael Jordan before Kobe passed away God Rest his soul that is a fact it is something that we debated about when Shaquille O’Neal comes on the show a little bit later on today he’ll confirm
That for you just ask him because he likes you too now I’m not sitting there coming at you derogatorily as if I got a beef with you I got a prow with you I don’t know you that well but I got mad respect for you you were a college
Basketball player at North Carolina you won a national championship okay in 2005 I saw you against Michigan State I saw you against Illinois I saw you against villain NOA I know who you are and what the hell you could do mad respect to you and I know you know the game but
Evidently you need lessons on how to quote people accurately and not to come across as somebody who’s personalizing some kind of comments just because you don’t like them I’m not here to agree with you just like you wasn’t on gil on Gilbert aras’s podcast to agree with me
You entitled The damn opinion I’m en titled to my damn opinion what’s the problem why is it that it’s hating just because I don’t have him as number two all time I think Kobe Bryant is the second greatest two guard in the history of basketball behind Michael Jordan you
Can debate whether or not he’s the greatest Laker of all time I would happen to say he’s number two to Magic Johnson because Magic Johnson is the greatest Point God to have ever lived he’s a quint essential Point God who ganized the troops around him and went
To to nine NBA finals in a decade and won five titles that’s my opinion there are plenty of people who would disagree with that but they wouldn’t label it as demeaning this man and literally bringing up his death to point out as if I’m tainting his legacy and tainting his
Soul which I would never do he was a friend of mine I covered them for years we knew each other on a personal level we spoke on a personal level which ain’t really anybody’s business but those who know no but even when he was alive I
Said I got MJ as number one LeBron as number two now where would I come up with that I would come up with that because he was playing with Shaq when Shaq was in his prime as the most dominant force in the game and arguably our lifetime outside of will Chamberlin
In some people’s eyes even including wil Chamberlain in some people’s eyes even though wil Chamberlain was average 50 and 25 in a season but those were my feelings I pointed that out I pointed out how the Lakers ultimately disbanded because of the friction that existed between him
And Shaq I pointed out how Kobe ultimately became a scoring champion and a league MVP and in the process of doing show went back to three straight NBA Finals with pal gou and Andrew bham and deserved mad credit for that but I pointed out the blowout loss in the
Finals to kg and Ray Allen and Paul p and Rondo in the finals we’re talking basketball that’s it you know it better than me you played you played on an elite level collegiately you played in the NBA for four to five years we can’t talk basketball without you going on a
Podcast going the hell off like somebody insulted your mama or your brother or your friend or somebody maybe that’s what Kobe was to you I’m not aware of that don’t know not not even questioning it what I’m simply saying is we’re talking basketball that’s it bro that’s
It what’s all of that for what’s all of that for because you have a difference of opinion all of a sudden I’m besmirching his name and his reputation I know you didn’t use the word but smch I’m using it that’s what we’re doing here we can’t talk basketball this is the
Problem this is the everybody in this day looking for clicks or looking for noise or just looking for something to about because their life ain’t great I’m not talking about you here Rashad I’m talking in general people look at things like this and they say you know
Something oh let me label this person a hater if you have to pick the greatest you have to pick one you don’t get to sit up there and say well this person could what that person could be and this person could be when you’re an analyst when you’re a
Commentator when you’re an a pundit and somebody asks you to answer the question question you got to answer the question who’s number two who’s the greatest big man who’s the greatest point guard who’s the greatest to guard who’s the greatest power forward you have to answer the question I think people talk about
Powerful it’s unquestionably Tim Duncan others came and tried to throw Carl Malone into the mix car Malone was phenomenal and great him and Stockton with picking rolls picking Pops in an open court giving the Malone and his powerful self on the wing absolutely I still think he comes after Kevin male
Because from 15t in in Kevin male personified what a power forward in that year in that era was supposed to be Patrick euan’s a Hall of Famer David Robinson’s a Hall of Famer they were not Shaq they were not Wilt they were not Kareem period they were not Bill Walton
Bill Walton who if he didn’t have bad feet would have had more than a couple of titles he had winning one in Portland in 77 against the Philadelphia 76s where he was clearly dominant before years later winning one in Boston as a reserve Bill Walton if he had never had
Bad feet would have been in a conversation even today we’re talking about joic is joic the best big man do stats show it efficiency SS shows it his skill set we know what he brings to the table give me id if you told me that em beeds durability would match yic and it
Was just about their talent and their skill set give me in be all day as much as I love yic love yic know he’s more efficient know that the analytics would point to yic instead of embiid but I’m watching with my two eyes and I’m saying this brother Joel embiid is something special
Period it’s an opinion where the person who coming in am iing somebody’s reputation am I nullifying and neutralizing them and I’m minimizing them like they ain’t this is the problem all this personal nonsense and all of this vitria because we can’t talk basketball and in a roundabout way in a
Certain different totally different kind of way you know what this reminds me of this reminds me of the stuff that I used to complain used to complain about because it’s been years since I said this about LeBron and fairness to him and years since I said this about other
Players In fairness to them but what used to drive me crazy is when we’re talking basketball nothing more the bouncing of the ball the game itself and you play great and you get all the hype and the second you don’t play great and somebody point that out oh well you know
I just want to be a role model to the kids out there and I just I just want to do the best that I can and oh so now we being evasive why can’t we talk basketball we only can talk basketball when you drop 40 or 50 but when you wet
The bed and you don’t show up in key moments we can’t point it out that matters we can’t simply talk about the game you on Gilbert Arena’s podcast Rashad MC that’s the podcast you were on say what you want about gil Gilbert Arenas the brother knows basketball
Number one and number two he can he could ball when he was play he got himself in some tricky situations we talked about that that’s my man on his podcast is as well as face to face and we communicate all the time got nothing but love for him going to bring him on
My television show too but Gilbert Arenas had some issues with his NBA in his NBA playing career nobody would question his basketball knowledge and nobody would question his skill when he was balling if I sit up there and I say yo you were this but you weren’t this based on what we
Saw how is that denigrating how is that insulting how’s that tainting or sullying somebody’s name you took it there bro you took it there why so in other words to dismiss it and oh by the way I dismissed it but not in a literal sense that you took it I had
To make a choice as to who the number two guy is I made the choice a long time ago based on what I’ve seen it’s LeBron MJ’s number one LeBron’s number two the game has started since 1947 the game is more than 75 years of age but if I call LeBron James number
Two instead of number one 50% of the people out there are saying I’m hating I got Kobe Bryant as arguably the greatest Laker of all time and the second greatest po the second greatest shooting guard in the history of basketball and clearly what without question a top 10 player of all
Time and you on some other podcast acting like I I sullied his name come on bro come on man can we talk basketball you talk it somebody ask you who the greatest player is or who’s number two or who your top five is and you answer that that means you on everybody else
Stop the man just stop let me move on to some other stuff that I want to talk about today on the show because I watched the San Antonio Spurs go up against the Milwaukee Bucks last night the Spurs ultimately losing the game in a final seconds 125 121 but
That wasn’t the real story the real story was the performance of both of its Stars Victor wian the rookie and Rookie of the Year candidate for the San Antonio Spurs and jannis S TMO the former League MVP okay former NBA Finals MVP Champion with the Milwaukee Bucks they put on a
Show so much so that we should be salivated for these brothers to meet as often as possible 44 points or 19 for 28 shooting for jannis saloma 14 rebounds seven assists two steals one block in the case of wiana 27 points nine rebounds an assist a steal five block
Shots and only 26 minutes of play if he was pissed off about his you know his his minutes I don’t blame wiana for feeling that way brother just came in the leag just turned 20 years of age and before he’s had a chance to pass gas they already proteced him by managing
His minutes he’s clearly the best player on the San Antonio Spurs right now the behind the back dribble along with the dunk on Brook Lopez that was something special the block on jannis was something special wom Yannis got skills the brothers got skills I like him a lot
He’s a treasure and a tribute to the NBA they need to stop lying by listening to 73 though he’s 75 I still next to the brother I came up to his damn belly he’s 75 trust me on that he ain’t 73 he ain’t 7ot he’s 7’5 but he’s got ball handling
Skills he’s got a Jay he can create his own shot off the dribble he can pull up he can roll off screens and shoot Jays he can spot up and shoot threes the brother is special but having said that to me he wasn’t the story I’ll talk about him compared to
Chad hren another day as it pertains to who’s going to be the Rookie of the Year cuz right now I’ve got Chad hram ahead of him because he’s a major contributor on a winning team out west whereas the Spurs are just not good but that doesn’t
Take anything away from wiana at all but he still wasn’t the story to me last night as fantastic as he was and as much as we should look forward to seeing him in the future what made the story last night was Giannis you see ladies and gentlemen there are moments where we see
It’s not just about your skill skills it’s about this that’s it it’s about this when you embrace the challenge to me nothing nothing does that better than basketball maybe there’s a few things I mean if you want to take pugilistic Sports into consideration like UFC MMA or or or or
Or boxing okay I get that part but I’m talking about in terms of a team sport I look at basketball that way because regardless of the other components around you your willingness as the star as the headliner as the big boy as as meeting the new the the the candidate
For Rookie of the Year in wiim beana him knowing you showed up into his house a packed house coming to watch you play you go up against Giannis and you a young blood that’s going right at him and Giannis is like you must have forgot who the hell I am and attacking you
Driving down the lane and dunking on his with his left hand trying to attack you again and dunk on you before wiim bana blocked the shot and snuffed it right back into his face and him going back and forth back and forth back and forth in the fourth quarter this is what makes
NBA action fantastic because it’s what we want to see from the stars on far too many occasions even when they show out on the court against one another you see far too many occasions where the stars don’t want to comment about what somebody else said even if it’s somebody that that is
Potentially on their level that’s going right at it I remember when Kobe Bryant had his nose messed up by Dwayne Wade in the All-Star Game and everybody was looking forward to Kobe Bryant going up against Dwayne Wade the following week on national television and open and tap
Kobe went right at him got a an one and and D Wayne ways not and this head all right all right I see what’s going on and they were going at it and everybody knew what it was you see when everybody knows what it was and the challenge and
The challenges embraced that’s what we want that’s what Giannis did last night that’s what we want to see stars doing when Devin Booker was talking a little smack to Paul George in the off season and Paul George was talking about playing Bully ball against him and
Everybody else I can’t wait to see Devin Booker against Paul George because they both been chirping and guess what they coming at each other because I know Paul George ain’t going to back down and I know de book going back down that’s basketball not all of this quiet good
Field hugging one another singing Kon Bay Y to one another and don’t let everybody in on the potential rivalry that exists Giannis let you know I’m here and and big fella wom Yannis it ain’t gonna be that easy to knock me off okay look at Giannis right there with
His rookie stats compared to wiim bana 6.8 points to 19.2 41% shooting to 45 5% shooting 4.4 rebounds for jannis to 10.1 for wom Yana wom Yana is averaging 1910 with 3.2 Blocks the game you talking about a David Robinson and Alonzo Mon and Shaquille O’Neal is the only three
Guys as rookies as big men to ever do those kind of numbers whan is doing that now but jannis said I don’t give a damn you gonna have to deal with me and that is what NBA action is all about at least it’s supposed to be at least it’s supposed to be that’s
My opinion but I got more for you one of them is the diesel himself Shaquille O’Neal he’ll be on the show in a few minutes but not before my partner in crime on ESPN NBA analyst extraordinaire the one and only Brian Windor comes up to talk about all of this and more he’s
Next right here on the Stephen A Smith show over the digital Airwaves of YouTube don’t go anywhere will be right back in a minute with me right now I was one of my teammates at ESPN an elite NBA analyst for sure the one and only Mr Brian
Windhorse is right here on the Stephen A Smith show for the first time how you doing buddy how’s everything going thank you Stephen A I’m I’m doing okay I I fell on a boat this week on vacation and cracked ribs in my back wow so so I am playing
Hurt but listen you know NBA players play hurt you got to play Hurt So I’m grunting a little bit okay all right right you’re handling it you’re handling we’ll get into why you were in the in the Islands during the NBA season another time I mean I we’ll get into
That another time I had to have you on my show today because it’s rare that I’ve heard you Rave about the NBA in the way that you were raving about on National Television this morning when you were talking about Victor wom Yana going up against Janis Sant DMO and just
The plethora of big men who’ve been putting on the show obviously yic hit the game-winning shot against the Golden State Warriors last night um and we know Joel embiid is scheduled to go up against the New York Knicks tonight and we’ve seen the greatness from him this season but specifically restricting
Ourselves to wiana versus Giannis last night talk about what you peeled from that game and particularly that individual performance with those guys going at each other well this was just an amazing back and forth matchup between them and you know I was kind of influenced Stephen A because this
Morning um my six-year-old who’s you know really getting into basketball I was showing him clips from the game and you know he doesn’t have a great understanding of everything and he was blown away watching them go back and forth it was incredibly impressive and
He was just like wow wow wow and he was putting his finger on the screen and and pushing it back to watch them play again and the thing I know about wanyama is just how much he wants and relishes these moments he wants to go up
Against the best players he wants to try to meet Giannis at The Rim he wants to go back and forth you know Stephen A in October there was a Monday night in October this year like October 7th right I flew I flew to uh Oklahoma City from
La I made a side trip to Oklahoma to go watch a preseason game and I watched Chad holgren play against Victor wanyama in their first preseason games both of them and nobody cared about this game Stephen A there was maybe 5,000 8,000 people in the building Oklahoma City the
Media even the media in Oklahoma City it was college football time they they weren’t even you know the Thunder media but none of the local columnists were even there right and I watched Chad homr and Victor wanyama go at each other’s throats in that game in a meaningless
Preseason game in October they both had 20 points in the first half and watched them trying to go mono eano and trying to sort of show each other up and I was like damn like not only are these guys super talented for their size they want
It on each other like it’s going to be hard to make it you know a big matchup because one of them is in San Antonio one of them is in Oklahoma City I’m not saying it’s Bird magic but it’s that kind of I want to beat this guy this guy
Thinks he’s better than me and I want his what he’s got and I saw that last night stay right there when you talk about Chad hren right now who by by the way is a leading candidate for league league rookie of the year honors it’s not wiim bana in some people’s eyes at
Least it’s him Chad hren for the Oklahoma City Thunder where are you at this particular moment in time when it comes to those two rookies obviously C got drafted a year before when bana but he got hurt during the summer and as a result missed the entire year last
Season so this year is his rookie year as well he’s eligible for the capture Rookie of the Year you know the Rookie of the Year honors what are your thoughts about him and Wim bayana up against one another and what’s their relationship I hear they don’t like each
Other too much I don’t think they do and Stephen A I saw this amazing moment that night so first off to answer your question I got homeg Gren in front because he’s impacting and and really helping his team win he’s obviously not the best player on his team that’s Shay
Gildas Alexander without question but he is materially affecting winning and that is rare for a rookie so I’ve got him ahead but it’s not decided wanyama is the best player on his team he’s averaging basically 2010 in three blocks y forget about that there’s nobody there’s very few people have ever done
That as 20-year-old only three only three rookies in ba history that’s David Robinson uh rookie David Robinson Alonzo mourin I believe that was two and I forgot who the third one was Shaq of course what I saying Shaq Shaq Shaquille O’Neal himself those are the only three
Yeah so and this guy’s young I mean I Shaq was probably about 2021 but you know this guy’s young so all right let me tell you a story of that night so wanyama and Homen you know they’re one year apart but they didn’t get to play each
Other in like all the the the All-Star games and stuff and the shoe camps and stuff because of covid it kind of wiped out all the events they would get together they’ve only really played against each other in one event and that was in the the under 19 FBA World
Championship a couple of years ago it was in lvia and wanyama outplayed home G in that game uh but the US beat France in the world championship when Bama fouled out and I’ve talked to Victor about it it’s the worst moment of his career he has not gotten over it and he
Has basically vowed revenge on the Americans for the rest of his career specifically in the 2024 Olympics but here’s what I loved okay so that night in Oklahoma City they go back and forth at each other they’re going into each other’s chests one guy scores on one guy
And and does the the strength move one scores on the other guy I’m telling you it was it was as an electric of a preseason game as I’ve ever seen even though nobody pay attention to it after the game in the hallway I am standing there with Victor and his mother elod
Who I met last year when I spent time with him in Paris right I’m talking to the two of them it’s their first time ever in Oklahoma City I’m standing with with his agent now I know that Victor’s the worst moment of his basketball life was losing this game to Chad homr Chad
Comes up in the hallway and steps in and introduces himself he says hello hi Victor he already he knows Victor um and and Victor says oh hi this is my mom and Chad meets his mom and his mom’s like 6’4 Stephen A I’m the shrimp okay I’m way below here and Victor and
Chad says you know I played Victor once before we played last a couple years ago in laia Stephen A this would be like Donald Trump running into Hillary Clinton with Bill Clinton there and saying oh you remember I ran against Hillary in 2016 you’re talking about like the defining moment of his
Basketball career I think he’s given him the needle Stephen A he’s he’s given him the needle all right and I loved it and his mom goes I remember wow you know like by the way so then I I never met Chad so I introduced myself to Chad I’d
Known Victor for a while at that point I introduced myself to Chad and Chad smiles and he goes I look forward to talking to you for the next 20 years and walks away I love that now he doesn’t talk like that always out on the court but
I’m telling you they want to beat each other and they want to be known as the better player this Rookie of the Year race you won’t see them talk about it necessarily in the media because they’re not really into that but it’s personal and I love it and it’s a part of this
Class of giants like embiid and yic who are dominating the league like we’ve never seen before let me transition away from the rookies right now because that’s a story that’s not going away wiana is the real deal he’s a big- Time Talent no doubt about it very impressive
Goes after it I love how he’s in attack mode I love how he went after Giannis last night Chad HR I’ve been watching him all season I love what I’m seeing from him and I think Oklahoma City is a team that we’ve got to discuss because they are something to be reckoned with
But let’s stick with Giannis and Milwaukee for a second here because this dude is a superstar I think he played like one last night showed the mentality of one last night but they have had their problems losing four or five games this season to the Indiana Pacers showing an inability to defend against
Teams who go small against them although they’re the number two seed in the Eastern Conference when you look at Milwaukee at times this year clearly Boston could beat them but you have to look at Philadelphia you have to look at Miami you can’t underestimate them what
Are we to make real quick of the Milwaukee Bucks based on what we’ve seen from them thus far this year well I think that they’re so gifted and so awesome and I think Dame has been exactly what the doctor ordered and they are a powerful team but in the the
Modern NBA in 2023 24 with the way they are calling the game if you don’t have size on the perimeter you can’t defend you you just aren’t going to be able to give these big long lanky teams problem this is one of the things that the Nuggets one of I mean look the
Nuggets won the title because they got yic right but you look at the Nuggets they’re huge they have great size everywhere you know maybe not Jamal Murray but you look Porter Aaron Gordon absolutely Michael Porter kentavius cwell Pope I mean even the guys they bring Off the Bench you know they got
Great length Boston look at the length that they got on that perimeter and you know Jew holiday plays bigger than his size right you look at Minnesota which by the way is being built by the same guy who built the Nuggets Tim Connelly went over there right the transactions that he’s made
Since he’s got there have been either to acquire length or retain length um uh because he knows how much how much size you got to have Milwaukee doesn’t have that size Stephen A and so my concern is at the highest level can they survive a four playoff
Series I’m not saying that they can’t win a couple can they win four playoff series without having that length the is no the answer is no I I mean it’s a simple no for me and B Bo out way I’ll still take it to that place with with
Minnesota because I think Rudy Gober is a liability come postseason times when teams want to go a bit smaller but I love seeing Anthony Edwards as much as I can see Anthony Edwards I want to see Anthony Edwards let’s stay in the Eastern Conference for a second though
Boston being a team that’s jacking up threes over 43 or 44 threes per game is that sustainable is that going to be what’s going to propel them to the to the NBA finals I’m not sure about that Wendy I’ve been in arguments with the about with people with this Stephen A
Because I think they shoot I think Jason Tatum who’s six foot n incredible uh you know creativity with both hands going to the basket should never allow teams to get bailed out by him taking long jumpers now he can create space because of his size right it’s the same concept
To Kobe Bryant when Kobe would go for last minute shots he was going to create that space because he could do with his footwork and that’s who his hero is but and the thing about it is Joe Missoula their coach this is what he’s coaching them he wants them taking these
Shots you know this is not them freelancing this is way he wants to run it and and know I got people saying this is the way you got to play if you’ve got an advantage on the three-point line and you’re you’re 4% Advantage per game you get those suckers up and but I
Sit there and watch Tatum and I go at the end of these close games I want to see Jason Tatum applying pressure to that defense I don’t want to see him bailing them out by taking an off-balance jumper so got it I agree with you I say they take too many threes
But I’m not I’m not you know I’m not the majority may not be on our side especially on that coaching staff I’ll go out west let’s go back out west because I’m looking at the Denver Nuggets and they’re clearly the favorites they’re the reigning defending Champions we
Don’t show them enough enough respect by talking about them as much as we should but that’s basically because it’s a foregone conclusion yic is the best in the game at this particular moment in time and a lot of people’s eyes they are reigning defending NBA champions like
You alluded to the size that they have available to them that’s something to behold when I look at the threats in the in the Western Conference we assumed it would be the Lakers we assumed it would be the Clippers who are very very relevant by the way we assumed it would
Be the big three in Phoenix and lo and behold we’re sitting here today in the top two teams are the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Oklahoma City Thunder real quickly Wendy how do we explain that well because defense the because you know in this era where nobody defends if you can
Defend it makes a difference and the Timberwolves defend and you may be right R goar might be able to be targeted uh when you get into playoff settings but look at Minnesota they’re huge you know they got Jaylen McDaniels out there he kind of plays like Aaron Gordon they got
Anthony Edwards who plays taller than his uh that his size and he wants to defend they have you know multiple seven-footers that they start they bring another giant guy off the bench in Nas Reed they are built to defend and one of the biggest transactions that’s happened
The last year Stephen A was Dem acquiring Mike connley Mike Conley has changed that organization and look it’s there’s other stuff going on goar is more settled and Edwards has become a superstar teammates ain’t fighting with each other they ain’t fighting with each other now on the sidelines none none of that’s
Happening not so far and goar seems to be calmed down and he and and he and town seem to have settled into a rhythm uh but they defend they’re the number one defensive team in the league by the way Boston’s number two who are the best
Two teams in the league Boston and min you still got to defend in the NBA if you’re going to win at the highest level I believe that but but not everybody does anymore Wendy I got to get ready to rush out of here in a couple of minutes
But let me ask you this question real quick if I started out this season and I said to you when we’re talking about playoff contenders none of them would include a team with LeBron James on it or Kevin Durant on it what would you have said well I would just say the Suns
Haven’t had their guys I mean I think they’re going to need 20 games before you can even evaluate them they’ve had like four so like I I have to give the Suns a pass here’s the thing about the Lakers they got a problem their problem is is that their roster has shown that
It can work they’ve shown that they can defend at a high level they’ve shown that their two superstars can can carry them at a high level but it’s not working they can’t make a shot and the and the collection that they have isn’t working so if you’re Rob pinka you got a
Challenge here do you trust what you’ve built do you trust that team that got the Conference finals last year do you trust the team that in the inseason tournament this year and you can qualify their opponents and however you want to qualify it they played awesome they played awesome defense and they were
Great executing when they when they needed to they dominated that play in tournament or that in season tournament how do you decide which is which and so to me I would have to say they got 12 games here the Lakers do they’ve played one of them 10 of their next 11 are in
Los Angeles two Road games one of them is against the Clippers they they stay here M at the end of that it’s the end of the month where are the Lakers are they five six games back above 500 they’ got the ship wred or are they three four
Games under 500 that is where you’re going to see a big giant thing and we’re watching LeBron Stephen LeBron’s already starting to you know he’s yeah he’s Moody he’s Moody he’s got an attitude because and I I don’t blame him because his players his teammates have betrayed him because other than Anthony Davis
Nobody else has really really shown up but I don’t want to hear these rumors any validity to these rumors that Darin ham could be on the chopping block that he could lose his job that’s insane to me the man just took them to the Western Conference Finals in his first year as
The damn head coach and when you look at it from that perspective and see that the struggle has been what it is this year it’s early but you still got plenty of time to write the ship what is this about well obviously the Lakers and and this isn’t even you don’t even need
Sources here the Lakers players have openly said that the changing rotations have frustrated them uh has had to change the starting lineup I think he’s had to use 10 different lineups some of that’s been because of injuries but he hasn’t used the lineup that they used
Most of the playoffs last year which was Reeves Russell and Vanderbilt all in the starting lineup and I think that’s frustrated the locker room but I’m going to tell you rob pinka who is the guy making the decisions now he can be influenced by LeBron James he can be
Influenced by you know other folks Genie Rob Genie obviously but Rob pinka believes that this roster can work and he believes and I mean really believes in Darin H he made the hire it was his call he uh you know really believes in the way he carried them through last
Season struggles and he appreciates the way he got the team to play in the inseason tournament this year right so I do think that there’s some pressure on Darin to find a lineup that not only works but keeps some more of the guys happy but Rob pinka believes in this
Roster he’s the guy who put it together and so that’s important while anybody speculates about what they’re going to do remember that the guy making the decisions likes what he’s put together and he learned a lesson from that Russell Westbrook trade which was he traded three guys on a team that was
Good and had good depth and had proven himself in the playoffs for One chasing something and it blew up in their face so when you put together these donov these uh deante Murray and Zack LaVine trade scenarios and it’s three or four for one nope that ain’t the way the
Lakers want to roll listen man I appreciate your time buddy I will talk with you about the Knicks another time I know they got OG and anobi they’ve improved defensively we know defense wins come playoff time but obviously you got to be able to score points too I’ll
Get on you about that another day and I’ll talk to you another day about the Los Angeles Clippers who I think got a shot to get to the NBA finals if kawh Leonard stays healthy that’s good Lord miracles happen Okay Paul George stays healthy who knows what the Clippers
Could do but until then we’ll talk another time Wendy I appreciate your time buddy thanks so much thanks for having me have a great weekend all right you do the same the one and only Brian winto remember Brian Winos in the hoop Collective his podcast all on Apple
Podcast all over the place the man knows his basketball really appreciate him taking the time to show up and join me here up next he is the diesel himself the one and only Shaquille O’Neal he’s up next with your boy Stephen A right here on the Stephen A Smith show over
The digital Airwaves of YouTube welcome back to the Stephen aith show everybody it’s my honor and privilege to have my next guest here with me you’ve known him as The Big Aristotle the big fella the diesel I also know him as this jok that’s calling himself Tex Johnson
And all of this stuff this big Cowboy F getting on my damn nerves all the damn time the one and only Shaquille O’Neal is in the house what’s up man how you doing while you’re not talking to sha you are talking to tax Johnson and uh I
Got this cowboy hat I just put it out the box for you baby oh Cowboy Nation here we go that’s what you doing baby you ain’t even no Cowboy fan Cowboys here we go why are you doing this here we go Cowboys here we go why are you
Doing this you’re not a Cowboys fan you just do it to are you a Cowboy fan I was born and raised a Cowboys fan before I started playing basketball I used to tell everybody that two Jones was my father shout out to two T Jones stop no
Doubt about it but let me ask you this question you acting like they gonna win the Super Bowl Bowl this year is that what you trying to say right we are oh really oh so you one of those you one of those you’ve been saying that every year
I I tell you what I live on a 50 Acre Farm here right now down here in Texas if they don’t win if they don’t win the Super Bowl you can have my farm I will bring listen here here is the paper to text Johnson’s farm if we don’t super
You can have it you can have the de and the trust it’s all I’m about to own a farm you know ain’t no way in hell y’all be in San Francisco and if you’re lucky enough to get out of the NFC you ain’t Bea Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore
Ravens y boy perect let’s go Dak Prescott I Believe In You deck oh please D you let me go to basketball okay you made news the other day I believe you were on your podcast you were talking about Chad Homen somebody was talking about I think it was your guy left Co he
Was talking about Chad hren and you stopped him because he used the word phenomenon you said you didn’t want to hear about that all the time let’s stop giving These Guys these kind of alkalides before they earn it elaborate on that for a second cuz a lot of people
Wanted to hear what you had to say about him and today’s big men you know this era we live in today a guy coming with a lot of hype and what and listen I’m guilty of it too I’ll show you all my good clips and I’ll post it you know
Making me seem better than I am you know he’s he a good player but listen he’s not he’s not up there with the KD he’s not up there with the LeBron will he I say hell yes at some point in his career in two three years but right now let’s
Not put all these pressure on these kids he’s a good player let’s just you know leave it at that are you talking about Chad hren Victor wiana or all of them all of them you know they’re listen it’s only it’s only one or two guys that came
Into the league right away and made an impact you know everybody else had to work you know again uh you know our good friend late great Kobe Bryant as great as he was it took him about maybe a year two years to become the black mama so
Listen these guys are doing fabulous I love that game Victor wiana had an unbelievable game last night let’s not put too much pressure on this kid he’s a rookie and I I said last night I stressed last night even though they’re not winning as an individual he has to
Continue to get better because at some point when you know KD leaves and when LeBron leaves and when Yannis get gets old older he’s going to be the future of the league and hopefully by then he’s averaging 28 30 and then we can say he’s
A phenomenon so you know I I just think we’re putting a lot of you know pressure on these kids my problem with what you’re saying is why are you so protective of them from from the pressure you came into the league you had the pressure LeBron came into the
League he had the pressure MJ came into the league he had the pressure alijan ying a whole bunch of people came into the league whether they were big men or not they had the pressure y’all had to deal with it why sit up there and cuddle these guys from that pressure you want
It here it is this is the pressure that comes along with it what’s wrong with that because I am the President of the big man of lives Joker is the vice president and Joel and beid is the Treacher I will always protect my big guys these guys are fabulous but you
Know I’m I’m I’m always trying to protect them even even even when I criticize them I’m just trying to give them information you know to protect them these guys are fabulous players and they continue to get better but let’s not put the oh he’s the greatest big men
Let’s not put that on them right now give them time to you know develop because if you put that on them now and they don’t reach that you’re gonna kill them I’m gonna kill them Barkley’s gonna kill them so I’m saying let them let them earn it let them earn it before
Before we give them KD status KD K KD is KD because he’s earned it that’s true that’s true no question he definitely has earned but let me ask you this question because I’m kind of shocked that you call them big men embiid’s a
Big man yic is a big men wh is tall Chad hung is tall combined they don’t weigh as much as you I mean to me they ain’t big men they just tall dudes KD 7t he ain’t a big dude why should they be considered a big dude they just as
Skinny as him I can’t believe you of all people didn’t pick up on the weight factor in all of this the girth yeah but my good friend Kevin Garnett said something interesting he said we’re so focused on what it used to be we need to
Focus on it now and I I kind of set back because kg’s a good friend of mine and I agree with him so we don’t have any big 350s anymore this is what we have now so this is what we have to you know look at
This is what we have to be proud of so I’m going to embrace these guys uh and then again you know me big guys four and five you know P power four not the stretch four keep them over there with the guard but the power for you know the
Zion and and the fives and guess what don’t forget about my boy B bow b b is coming B that’s what we do that’s what we doing now B bowl is coming oh my God stop it I just stop it just stop it let let me ask you this
Though as we St we as we sit here today we look at joic some would say he’s the best big man in basketball obviously has the credentials he’s a reigning defending NBA champion we know what numbers what level of efficiency he brings to the table but I got to tell
You Shaq when I look at it from a talent perspective and I see this brother Joel embiid balling the way that he has balled the skill set that he has at his size there are very few people on the planet that have been able to be what
Joel embiid is how do you compare those two big boys and they’re big boys they’re both great players but if Joel doesn’t win you’re gonna kill him you your show yeah you big perk JJ reck right Joker has that edge he’s one right right you know even though you know the
Numbers are different and I uh I had an interview the other day and I I could remember having similar lesser numbers than Joel embiid and they asked the great Kareem Abdul jaar what do you think about Shaq and his response was he’s pretty good but he hasn’t won yet
Kind of broke my heart but it was The Truth Listen Joel MB is a fabulous talent definitely number one number two but if he doesn’t win in this world we live in you’re G to kill him well listen I I did it to you I told you you had to
Win you remember that conversation you you did you did and know listen I like I said I have similar numbers but until you win I mean I I know what Joe is going through and you know I definitely want him to win because he’s he can do it all
He’s a great player what does it take though Shaq what what’s that there’s an ingredient that comes with it because you can’t do it by yourself and we know from a skill set and from a numbers perspective Joel andb puts up the numbers I told you you called me and we
Were talking about this the other day when you had Penny and those boys in Orlando you didn’t win yet you got to the finals but you lost to Houston you didn’t have you had Eddie Jones in LA but you didn’t win and then Kobe came and ultimately developed and then y’all
Three repated what is it going to take for joeel andb to capture a championship in Philadelphia well Joe’s gonna have to beat Joel and that 34 that he’s averaging during a regular season he’s going to have to maintain that probably add three four five onto that Max Max is
Going to have to step up so you def you need a one two punch but the key is one my favorite players Tobias Harris he’s gonna have to he’s gonna have to be very very consistent you’ve heard me say many times and I will always say I would not
Have four championships without Brian Shaw Rick Fox Robert Ory Anquan Walker James posy Udonis has them the others are going to have to step up and be special like for I I don’t know what like you know Tobias averages now let’s just say he averages 15 if you can
Average 20 Mr Tobias or 21 or 22 now you’re talking he’s got to be more aggressive he’s got to be more aggressive but you brought up ay you brought up Brian Shaw you brought up the Rick Fox of the world and others let’s transition because they were all wearing Laker uniforms as well
Along with you and Kobe we look at the Lakers today I’ve been on the record I think the players have betrayed LeBron James and Anthony Davis they ain’t doing a damn thing I mean we on the digital Airways of YouTube they ain’t doing it’s just that simple I’m looking at
Them right now I’m talking the rest of the Lakers I’m not talking about dingham the coach I’m not talking about pinka who assembled the squad I’m looking at Anthony Davis averaging 30 and 12 ain’t missing games this year I’m looking at LeBron James averaging 25 plus and I’m
Seeing the D’Angelo Russell the hachim moras of the world the Austin Reeves of the world who was averaging 17 as of late and others and I’m like they not they not stepping up it’s like they got comfortable because of the Western Conference Finals appearance what do you
Make of what you’re seeing from the Lakers well after the the the raising of the accolate banner not a real Banner after that in season Banner in season yes in season Banner just been playing different and they what they have to realize they have to take advantage of their opportunities
The pressure is on LeBron and AD but as a professional player of a GU is leaving you wide open you have to step up Rick Fox and dererk Fisher used to be pissed off if they missed open shots they knew they had to knock those down so again
The others have to step up listen you got ad playing Fabs I’m on ad’s case all the time um you know LeBron playing but Reeves got a play spectacular d’angel got a play spectacular uh Rudy hat Murray got a play spectacular and they had to take advantage of the you play
With two of the greatest players ever you have room to operate so if you got room to operate be aggressive and operate you can’t always wait on him sometimes you gotta do it yourself but you know the others have to step up you know Charles always talk about the
Others don’t matter right you need others to win championships period I said this on TV the other day I said if I’m the Lakers if I’m Genie bus if I’m Rober link or somebody I take those other dud dud not Anthony Davis not LeBron James but the other dudes and I
Drive them around La I make sure the sun is shining that’s about 80° outside I say you want to be here you you you want to go somewhere else or you want to be here because if you want to be here you going to need to produce I think you
Throw that in their face and use the California sunshine and the lifestyle of threaten to take it away from them do you like that strategy I love that strategy and they realize you you have to take pride pride of when you are you know I always keep shout my others CU
They take they took pride they took pride of holding me responsible holding Cobra responsible they took pride of like hey man you like hey you’re asking us to do this you need to do this sh you need to do that and so like we all we all held each other accountable but
Other guys have to step up like I I would I would I would love to be a guy out there with people not respect him and I get to Showcase my talent like that would just make my make my blood boy like oh you’re not GNA stick me and
I can shoot a little bit I’mma knock down every shot I’m gonna make make a name for myself in La playing with LeBron ad please you know what they gonna say LeBron ad and that dude Shaq boy sh nice who remind who reminds you of you
Most in today’s game I’m gon have to go with Yiannis I’m I’m actually I’m actually jealous of today’s big man I wish I was able to take out and go Coast to co like I did every now and then but I would get in trouble by the coach but
Now it’s like now it’s like you know Joker getting it and calling plays and calling for screens and doing back door cut like I I had that ability I wasn’t able to Showcase I’m definitely jealous of today’s big man but to answer your question Yannis because when he puts his
Head down he gonna run you over your your top five young stars in the NBA right now because I’m thinking guys like Anthony Edwards to give you an example your top five young Stars is jannis still young nah we ain’t going with him he got championship in the
League for about eight nine years I’m talking about some of the young Bloods right now Shay gilders Alexander even though he’s been around for a little while Shay gild Alexander Anthony Edwards that kind of thing yeah hey hey man you you you you gonna let me answer
Go ahead you know what sorry you don’t respect me time to go to my boy uh sh definitely all right me Edward is a who I like the Edward special and I like my boy I like Trey I like I Tre okay I like wiim bana at the five really at the four
I’m gonna go with hope I’m not saying his name wrong Hakim H Miami oh hame hamez yes coming off and coming off the coming off the bench Alfred sangon in Houston oh yes that’s a good one that’s a good one and I’m G throw my boy Zion in there
Zion really really yeah hold on hold on I know what he can do I have no questions about his skill set just the desire on a night and Night Out basis and and that’s the point I get make as soon as he decides to turn that switch
And leave alone he’s gonna be a problem Shaq Before I Let You Go I had to address a little bit earlier in the show this cat Rashad mcken out of North Carolina you remember him played in the league for about four or five years okay won a national championship in Carolina
In 2005 wasn’t no scrub or anything like that the brother got mad at me I don’t know him but he got mad at me because I was like listen I love Kobe miss him to death the Black Mama’s the Black Mama but I did not have him number two all
Time and because of that I’m hating I’m was like is is there something wrong with today’s culture like you you if you tell us I’m thinking Kobe Bryant’s top 10 all time probably top five I mean look number two off guard all time behind Michael Jordan in my mind I’m
Looking at it and I’m saying wait a minute what’s wrong with me not saying that he’s not number two all time in the history of basketball what’s wrong with that Shaq we have to sometimes be able to stop time and get out of Our Own Way everybody’s goingon to have a different
Opinion yeah right some people like this shirt some people hate it some people think it’s old school but we have to just because you have an opinion doesn’t mean you’re right or wrong and just because you have an opinion doesn’t mean we have to get into a verbal altercation right and one one
Thing I know about you one thing I know about him one thing I know about me is once we say what we say we’re going to stand on it but again I had to learn how to get out of my way like I hear all the time the go conversation sometime my
Name comes up sometime it doesn’t I used to take it personal but bro it’s eight big milon people here you think I got time to react to a damn uh poll and reading every guys all right person number one said Shaq no like bro you
Think I have time to like look at each and everyone’s uh uh compliment or non compliment about me so I understand it but we have to sometimes and and and this goes for all of you know Society just because a person thinks one way doesn’t mean they’re right or wrong but
It doesn’t mean you have to belittle that person or you know talk about that person cuz we as people we going to stand on what we stand on but I have a problem with you know what you said like my thing is doesn’t matter who the go is
My my guy should be in the conversation yes don’t just don’t just no but hold on so what Rashad was saying is like you guys just throw them out of the conversation like you know sometimes you have to listen to what people saying like right now and listen you know I
Love all all those guys and I’m actually jealous that my name is not in the conversation morein that’s neither here nor there so somehow it just went from Mike to LeBron and you just threw my guy out of the conversation his name needs to be in there all the time and and when
His name is not in there that’s when people have a problem I I I appreciate the correction but let me ask you this question as you sit there as a basketball analyst doing a great job that you do on TNT you know several nights a week during the NBA season I’ve
Seen you on many occasions question certain things and you’re just talking about the game and guys personalize it and you talking about bask you didn’t insult them you just talked about what they needed to do how somebody else may have done it better particularly in moments because you ain’t just looking
At Stats you looked at moments knowing you the way that I have over these decades you didn’t just pay attention to numbers you were talking about who showed up when it was time to show up too all of those things come into consideration I look at Kobe there is
Nothing on Earth to question the greatness of Kobe Bryant who to me is one of the greatest of all time but it did help for those first three rings that he had you in in your Prime to some degree that’s not the point the point everybody is making is don’t leave them
Out the conversation I’m not leaving them out the conversation you are you always say you always say goat the goat is LeBron or Mike no I never said it’s LeBron it’s always Mike it’s always Mike for me I say two LeBron you’re right you’re right but you’re right but I
Always hear Mike and LeBron and I used to hear Mike and Kobe and now it’s Mike and LeBron my thing is it has to be those three guys and if you want to get technical Dr J need to be in there too no cuz he started all this a no no is no
I love Dr J but it’s no hey hey hey Dr J started all this okay he started but that don’t make him to go though and Magic yes I had I had magic up in there too I said but that don’t make him to go I got magic is the greatest point guard
Of all time listen it doesn’t matter or doesn’t matter who you or I think the goat is certain people can be in a conversation certain people can’t okay and I just think and I just think before y’all say one and two you can’t leave my
Guy out so I can kind of understand why rashan was getting upset especially with Kobe not being here you know it just makes it that and and and you know like I kind of heard with his point was like you’re just trying to throw him away and
You know we would never do that and I know you would never do that you and Kobe had a great relationship but his name needs to be in that conversation when you talk about great but what I had to tell Rashad earlier was that Kobe and I had that conversation because I told
Kobe cuz KOB like what what do you mean I said Kobe I got Mike you saying I got I got LeBron who been around quite a long time in his versatile with 69 260 and all of this I said I look at Kareem I look at Shaq I look at Bill Russell I
Said when I people used to get on me because I didn’t bring up Will Chamberlain here was my issue with Will Chamberlain you your number one Nemesis was Bill Russell he had 11 titles you had two and that was your number one neem Nemesis so I’m not questioning the
Greatness of Will Chamberlain but how can I put you against a dude that was your nemesis that’s got nine more titles than you so it’s like it’s a basketball conversation and that’s all I’m saying and that’s something you and I talked about yeah you got you could throw
People in the conversation but you got to make a decision remember I told you that you got to make a decision and you got to pick one I picked one and then and then as a society like like me and you came into the game arguing but we
Always had that respect for each other right you you wrote an article I called myself jumping on you you jump back and you told me why you wrote the article and I was like okay watch this the next time I saw you okay big boy but like so
We we still can respect each other and you know so I don’t mind people having even heated conversations so almost going to blows but as long as the respect is there I think this world will be a better place right now you got a lot of disrespect and this and that I
Agree but again I don’t mind people talking about who their go is but you definitely got to have my boy in that conversation I definitely will and I definitely will Sha let you go for now man happy New Year big boy Tex Johnson is it is it Tex Johnson or is it sha
Which one is it this is T Johnson right here here we go Cowboy here we go here we go Cowboy here we go all I want to know is this am I gonna be able to find you when they lose next month this month I’m sorry this month am I going to be
Able to find you and listen I tell you what when we go to the Super Bowl you can sit in the suite with me I’m you going let me sit in the suet with you you gonna let me sit in tweet with you well uh hold on hold on first hold
On uh Jared Jones is Tech Johnson and we make it to the Super Bowl would you allow stepen a to sit in the sleep with us okay sir thank you Jerry Jones said he’ll get back to me man get the hell out of here man I see you later man I
See you later man they will lose this month they they they will lose before the month is over over okay in January it’s coming just weeks away it’s just weeks away here we go Cowboy here we go bye man appreciate you bro welcome back to the Stephen A Smith
Show why am I sitting here so happy so in I’m just loving life I’m just loving life why because it wasn’t just about great NBA action last night you know what else it was about it was about the eny the enemies now what on Earth would
Moah have to do with a Daytime Emmy Award especially as it pertains to that great so proper General Hospital I wonder what it could be I wonder what it could be take a look our next nominee is known for his work as a sports commentator but
As you’re about to see he is so much more you saw the tap hell no but I saw people seeing it and I got to tell you it took every bit of self-control I can muster for me not to take everyone at them out please tell me you found out and did
This and the Emmy for Outstanding lead actor in a drama series goes to Stephen A Smith General [Applause] Hospital I’d like to thank the academy my family and of course all all the brick fans out there I couldn’t have done this without you I grew up watching GH I had four older sisters and when we came home from school the TV was always
On GH since I wasn’t allowed to go outside until I finished my homework I watched the show every single day growing up and look at me now I want an Emy for outstanding lead actor nice speech stepen a what’s up man yeah it was just some fingerprints on this you you know just
Want to try to shine it what’s going on Mom oh I’m just admiring your Emmy GH has more gold than this one really mhm General Hospital holds the record for the most Emmy wins for outstanding daytime drama it’s won 15 times but that’s just for the show itself there’s
Writing directing acting set design lighting hair and makeup GH is one a total of 132 emys not bad man man the Emmy is like the Super Bowl the Soaps and GH is the goat Tom Brady of daytime to be exact maybe one day I’ll be able
To do that speech for real but it must be tough to actually win one of these oh I have one I have two I have one does everybody on this show have an I actually have three it’s okay buddy one day one day a let it out it’s all right you okay
See what’s the moral of the story in all of this you got aspirations and the aspiration has to be visualized okay before it could actually reach fruition so yeah I don’t have any me now they got those but I’m a part of this show and you know something I’mma
Speak it into existence I don’t know how I don’t know when but someday I too will legitimately get myself in Emmy speak it to existence speak it into existence that’s how it starts ladies and gentlemen that’s how dreams come true congratulations to all my teammates at General Hospital by the
Way W seven emys just a few weeks ago congratulations way to go great great great people love them all in death be back there next week by the way I’ll be on the episode January 25th and January 26th you could see me both days on General Hospital showing off a little
Bit of acting chops let’s move on to some tweets before I get on out of here and get to the phone calls rather before I get on out of here but before I do any of that I got to touch on a couple of stories that y’all need to
Know about number one I saw this story and I just had to say something about it so look apparently a pastor a pastor went into a McDonald’s and then decided to attempt to make some of his own fried food using the cook after a worker quote unquote disrespected this man’s wife the pastor
Dwayne Wen allegedly attempted to throw The Man In The Deep Fire I mean Lord that’s what happened okay now I will say this none of us should ever condone violence we got enough sick nonsense going on in our society today but obviously a pastor isn’t usually associated with violence so aberration
Happen in life if his wife who was in training to be a manager for the local McDonald’s felt the need to call her husband to come there and check some young dude that was disrespecting her and this man decided to put his hands around this man’s neck and punch
Him in the face a few times yes he was going to be arrested yes he’s in trouble with the police yes there’s video to support they arresting him but if that man a pastor a man of God decided to put his hands on somebody then he must have really felt
Like his wife was being violated so I don’t know what kind of punishment is coming his way but I’ll bet you this home life is going to be pretty nice for that man because he came to the aid of his woman and I don’t know too many women
Who don’t love that next up presidential candidate Nikki Haley apparently she found herself in some hot water recently when she was asked about the reasons behind the Civil War by the way forgetting to mention the main reason which was slavery well on Thursday couple weeks later she attempted to clean up her
Answer of omitting slavery as a cause of the war by saying quote I have black friends growing up I had black friends growing up a lot of people are trolling her getting on her and what have you and who knows how it’s going to affect her in
The PO because she was gaining some momentum particularly going up against Ronda santz when none of them were coming close to Donald Trump by the way but that’s a different subject for another day let me say this to white folks out there who have black friends when you say I have black friends
That’s very incriminating you know why because white folks who usually say that are the ones who are accused of or perceived as having a problem with being friendly to black people now I’m not saying that Nikki Haley is guilty of such a thing she was the former governor of South Carolina by
The way and I get that part but I’m just saying even though some people can take it out of context even some people incriminating her too excessively the bottom line is just a lesson to be learned here don’t use the black friends label all it lets everybody know is that
It’s not something that you’re accustomed to it’s an aberration and because of that it’s justification not to trust you if you are a republican if you are a m if you’re a member of the conservative right here’s a hint there’s an abundance of black folks out there who share your
Ideology and your ideological beliefs just be seen with them hang with them likeminded folks in terms of their ideology hanging out with one another regardless of race ethnicity Etc if you just do that that will go a long way on far too many occasions it’s something I once
Told late Senator John McCain got rest his soul when he was running for election against Barack Obama I said the biggest problem with the Republican party is the fact that every time you see an abundance of them it’s only them around who happen to be white you really
See anybody black around them I didn’t say never I said really and I think former Speaker of the House Mr McCarthy said it best I don’t know whether it was weeks ago or months ago and he talked about looking at the Democratic party and seeing assemblance of America and looking at the Republican
Party and seeing the most Posh affluent Country Club in America I’m paraphrasing but I believe I got that quote right it’s just something to think about it’s just something to think about I’m a registered independent so I flow either way Republican or Democrat but even though I’ll be Dam if
I vote for a republican that’s Trump but you get what I’m saying I hope you do let’s go to the tweets before I go to the calls to get on out of here for the day let’s go to this James at Caucasian James I didn’t write that that’s his Twitter handle not mine
He says do you like vodka Red Bulls I neither like vodka nor Red Bulls I think that if you need Red Bull you’re kind of cheating what you looking for that kind of energy boost for you don’t have it what you looking for the Vodka for would
You like spice it up I mean don’t get me wrong if it works for you it works for you but I’m saying some people when you say vodka Red Bulls if it was vodka or Red Bulls that would be different but the combination of both connotates something that you’re clearly in need of
And it’s not an alcoholic boost it’s something else no it’s not how I roll next one let me get this next tweet up here at The KES the khaf Sha khaf CI what the hell is that the k e s h a v k a LS
I some of y’all names boy I really wonder about y’all anyway talk about Steve Kerr and his way of mishandling young talent I didn’t accuse Steve Kerr of mishandling anybody what I said was the K Jonathan kingas of the world the Moses moodies of the worlds now the pkis of the world
These young Brothers can play and it’s good to see at least kaminga and Pinsky in the lineup the flip side to it is that when it comes to kaminga and Moody what’s taking you so long Joe Laker Peter goober and the rest of the ownership for the Golden State
Warriors former president of the basketball operations Bob Meyers now it’s the GM Mike Dunley V Jr when you look at this squad and this roster everybody’s been wanting to play Young Players Steve cerr has been reluctant to do that at some point in time when you’ve got these young boys in your
Lineup in a uniform particularly with an 82 game regular season schedule the more you play them the less you play some of the veterans the more healthier and fresh the veterans are come playoff time as opposed to being spent and I think even though he’s a four-time champion
He’s going to six NBA finals and I think Steve Kerr is proven to be one of the top five coaches in the history of basketball that is often a question I’ve had about him it’s literally the only question what about the young Bloods when you going to get them integrated
Into the system where they can play more time so they can give Steph Curry to Klay Thompson the world and others their requisite West and so much to so much toiling doesn’t have to be placed on their body that’s all I’m saying that doesn’t mean he’s mismanaging Young
Folks it just means it’s a legitimate question to ask as we look at Steph Curry who’s age 35 wondering how much time he’s going to continue to be this great when you’re playing him so many minutes and you’re giving him so much time and you’re not finding a way to
Spell for him next tweet atore askor Sebastian Stephen A are you into big beautiful women what’s the largest lady you would ever be with h interesting question for the record I want people to be sensitive to this I ask I answer these questions because y’all ask and I don’t even ask
Answer most questions okay so I asked I answer these questions because I’m a man of the people if you ask me a question I’m going give you an honest answer in most instances I’m never going to lie but in the same breath I’m not going to
Answer every damn question but I get a lot of these questions so for every one that I accept there’s about 50 to 100 that I turn down because I don’t have time and I’m not interested in answering all those damn questions but to answer the second question first I’m not my boy
Pulley now I’ve told y’all about pulley in the past you ever saw that movie Norbit and you had the character rasp fuchia you know with all her blubber hanging off of her legs and her arms and stuff like that I mean just meat on top
Of meat if she was wearing an outfit you could see the cellulite through her jeans stuff like that that’s him a Ras puchia who sat in the car and tilted one side that’s py that’s not me I like thickness I don’t like overweight that’s not me
To each his own to each her own to each their own doesn’t matter to me that’s my flavor it’s not about pound you could be 110 lbs you could be 180 PBS if you’re solid and you have a figure works for me plain and simple that’s how I am but
That’s me I know plenty of men who are different I know dudes that you could have a backside as flat as the screen they fun if you’re healthy up top I know dudes that you could have smaller breasts than mine but you got a backside that can
Back up to the wall and they good with that my cousin Derek is about symmetry symmetry nothing’s too excessive it’s just right that’s him another one of my dudes you could be that way but you got really skinny legs he’s not interested he want them thick
Legs it’s the difference one of my boys he wants a red bone he don’t want a woman too dark and he doesn’t want a white girl he wants a lightskinned girl another one of my dudes if she was so dark he couldn’t see her at night he’d love her everybody’s got their own
Preference everybody got their own preference everybody’s different okay so you can’t go by that but to answer your question about the large lady you don’t go by the scale you go by how it looks and how it fits it’s number one number two does that mean am I in
The big beautiful wom not really I’m in the beautiful voluptuous women when you say big that varies now let me get to the calls before I get on out of here for the day 88 SAS 5303 that’s 888 727 5303 to the calls we go let’s go to Jake ivy
On the Clippers what’s going on how you doing Jake Hey Stephen how you doing I’m all right talk to me what’s up I met you at the book signing in New York I told you I was the only Clipper fan here wanted to hear your thoughts wanted to
Hear your thoughts now with the big three finally blending in uh next year into it dome opening day is it also Banner raising night for us here’s my problem problem with you respectfully why the hell are you thinking about next year y’all have never been to a finals
Let alone won a championship in NBA history why would you be thinking about next year at the new Arena when you got a chance to win it right now it’s about right now and I think this season are you talking about winning now and hanging it up at the beginning of the
Next season is that what you were talking about yep correct my I stand corrected my apologies here’s the deal you got a chance you got a chance because the Denver Nuggets are the favorites they’re a big team they know how to play they know how to win they
Got the best play in the world in some people’s eyes there’s no doubt about that but Kawai is a two-time champion and when he’s played over the last 11 or 12 games or so they’ve won every game Paul George is playing like a star J James Harden has been terrific so let’s
Not forget what they bring to the table and I can’t say enough about Russell Westbrook Russell Westbrook got a really really bad rap when he was with the Los Angeles Lakers I’m not saying he didn’t deserve it or not I don’t know I’ve heard conflicting stories from both
Sides and I don’t want to sit up there and throw shade on him but in the same breath I don’t want to just take you know the side from his Camp either but I’m G to tell you this Russell Westbrook in a Clippers uniform has been an
Incredible plus I was so happy they resigned him because he did a hell of a job for them last season he did a hell of a job for them in the postseason when Kawai went down it wasn’t his fault they lost and oh by the way once James Harden
Comes on board for him to volunteer to come off the bench and for him to be the Energizer Bunny that he has been I can’t say enough about what Russell Westbrook means to this Clippers team I’m telling you right now and let me not forget Norm po that brother could play too or
Terrence man and the coaching the tyoo I’m not going to label y’all a favorites but I’ll tell you this it wouldn’t surprise me at all if the Western Conference Championship came down to the Clippers versus the Denver Nuggets I will admit that and I appreciate the
Call man fuzzy in Vegas sh live Stephen A what’s up fuzzy how are you good man hey congrats on first take having as biggest year ever man thank you I appreciate that man thank you so much what’s up hey last time that we spoke I don’t know if you remember but you told
The baseball Community to shut the hell up and then the baseball Gods rewarded you with that first pitch I just want to ask if the baseball gods are still listening what’s one thing you would change about baseball to get both Stephen A Smith and ESPN to care about
Baseball a little bit more well first of all the younger audience how about that um the the baseball guys was with me I was clearly I was clearly uh ill informed in that regard because man I I got to tell fuzzy man I spent I threw 30
Pitches in front of the Yankee Dugout from 60 feet 6 Ines man and I was throwing at least 20 of them I was throwing strikes and I W I walked up on that Hill I walked up on that hill and I said oh what have I done I couldn’t
Believe how far away it looked I said oh my God I don’t know if I’ll reach home plate that’s how scared I got I just just a choke job on my part just a choke job having said all of that I would tell you this to get more people interested
In the sport of baseball you do what Rob Manford has already done major props to the MLB commissioner against tradition against the old guard against folks who are holding on to the times that used to be changing the pitch count changing the pitch clock rather changing shifting rules infiltrating more running more
Athleticism more stolen bases more RBIs more runs scored Etc that has infused the level of athleticism and they haven’t been averse to the personalities that have come with the sport so because of that you know you flip the bat it doesn’t cause a brawl or anything like
That anymore guys are learning to deal with it and you’re infusing that Young Generation into the game and as a result it’s not going to be perceived as a dying sport before long whose audience is Fading Into the Twilight you’re going to get some youngsters interested in the
Sport that’s what needed to happen that’s what Rob Manfred did it the baseball community did it because they were practicing it and testing it in the minor league system I think what needs to be done they’ve already been doing and I think baseball is on its way up
And we’re not going to ignore it and I can assure you we’re not going to ignore it during the baseball season when mad dog is there on Wednesdays with me I can promise you that thanks a lot for thank you man I appreciate it appreciate man thanks
Thanks a lot man JY you’re live but Ste what’s up man how you doing St happy New Year and congrats on that Amy dog let’s get it done now I play it around that was that I wish I did get but go ahead I was gonna ask you about the
Clippers but since they already asked hey I was interested so do you think the NBA is ever gonna compare to the NFL in ratings I know they had the inseason tournament and that was pretty cool nobody’s gonna compare nobody nobody’s going to comp compare with the NFL NFL
Is King in the United States of America you know why because they’ve established their sport as an event you’ve got pastors changing changing this the times of their sermons okay so to make sure they don’t miss games you understand let people out of church early move in
Service time up so people can leave to get to get out in time for the games you know baseball is religion and I’m sorry football the NFL is religion in America that’s the reason 16 17 games now over an 18 we period before the playoffs
Begin and on top of it all baseball is 162 games basketball is 82 hockey is 82 so there’s so many games there’s so much time and then you got to think about the tailgate parties and stuff like that Bas football is an event and it’s the tailgate parties to the game itself it’s
Coming on on Thursdays it’s coming on on Sundays it’s coming on on Monday nights once the college football season expires before the college playoff on the bowl games begin they’re playing on Saturdays I’m talking about you talking about a minimum of three days a week sometimes
During the year four days a week that you’re getting football and for each City it’s an event and so when you look at it from that perspective I don’t think anything catches the NFL but the NBA is pretty damn popular itself and I don’t think it’s going to fade into the
Twilight its audience is growing as well because we’ve got a connection with that young Niche it’s just that nothing is football my man nothing is football all right take it easy my brother all right have a good that’s it for today’s edition of the Stephen A Smith show I hope y’all
Enjoy your week and I hope you enjoyed this show thanks again my man Brian winto from ESPN and of course the one and only Shaquille O’Neal the diesel himself really appreciate them giving me their time on this particular Friday thank y’all so much I look forward to
Being back with y’all on Monday it will be live from Houston Texas site of the national championship game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Washington Huskies I will be coming at you live from Houston Texas so until then peace and love everybody see you Monday much love to you be safe take care
32 Comments
That's why Giannis is my favourite player in the nba he brings it to everyone he aint scared he brings his A game.
When it comes to Lebron and Kobe, Rashad's takes aren't credible. He has clear hate for Lebron and an unhealthy obsession with Kobe. It's actually kind of weird.
#Gr8 job as Always #KING .. #Salute from #BrooklynNy
There was never a time Kobe was the best player in the game. How tf he gone be 2nd in the goat conversation?😭😭
Rashad is rude and crass as usual. Really not feeling that energy especially his behaviour in recent months. His response could have been completely different
I’m surprised Steven A didn’t talk about the Katt Williams situation. He normally does about mostly everything that’s trending over the internet . Plus it was on his co worker’s Podcast. But he responds to Rashad Macants man F*** Rashad Macants 😂 he didn’t even say anything that crazy about you fr but i get it your basketball integrity was “Offended” lol
LeBron been number one option since he enter the nba, Kobe only in the last years with Shaq as number one and the rest of his career
Why should LeBron be ranked higher than Kobe Bryant thinking about it in 2010 Kobe Bryant was a five-time championship two LeBron James zero LeBron James did not pick up a Championship tell 2012 to 2013 Kobe Bryant was on the b e n c h he was on one leg he was already hurt, matter of fact that was the only reason LeBron James have won that title because Kobe Bryant was hurt on the bench see the thing is have not got no rings so that bull crap that you talking about it means nothing to me because Kobe Bryant was already a five-time championship Kobe Bryant didn't make his way back from that injury 2013 – 2014 year LeBron James next Championship was in 2016 Kobe Bryant was already reached his retirement status what are you talking about LeBron James was never better than Kobe Bryant at no point. Your lies your theories does not work with me. I don't care what LeBron James have done you cannot put LeBron James ahead of Kobe Bryant with no rings if you think so you are talking out the side of your neck and it don't make no sense to me. All this bull crap that you are talking he only better because they not playing anymore . who can't catch a Dead Man Walking can't put out anymore besides LeBron James the only reason LeBron James is better than Kobe Bryant because Kobe Bryant already retired and gone you only LeBron James pass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is because he was already gone retired and old if you don't see the loophole in that then maybe you should stay at home and get some help like I said the previous person is not playing anymore or gone for good. Keep in mind LeBron James first championship came in 2012 to 2013 Kobe Bryant was a five times champion in 2010 how in the hell can you say LeBron James is better than Kobe Bryant like I said Kobe Bryant was already on one leg before LeBron James even made one push to a championship run
Luka Doncic?
I can see it now the nba dont like luka he done things in the nba that no one hasn't done and yet they still dont give him the MVP or got him as the BEST PLAYER in the game the luka disrespect got to stop i dont even want to watch basketball because he not getting the respect he deserves!!!
I NEVER LEAVE COMMENTS… but @stephenASmith if we are going to penalize Kobe for having Shaq in his prime…. So what do we say about LeBron having Wade, and Bosh in their prime…… LeBron having Kyrie and Love in their prime…. LeBron having AD in his prime… all those teammates LeBron had top 75 except for Love I guess… but Kobe had Shaq then got Gasol who BY THE WAY NOBODY would’ve known who he was because he played for MEMPHIS!!! And only true basketball heads had heard of him… so what are you saying? Kobe helped Gasol be Gasol… Kobe helped Bynum be Bynum and Odom be Odom.. because without Kobe nobody cared about any of those three players I just mentioned… so please stop the cap 🧢 I’m a Laker fan and Kobe is the greatest Laker of all time.. MAGIC had HOW MANY HALL OF FAMERS on his teams??? STOP IT!!! Please stop it… Kobe’s second back to back he just had Gasol nobody is gonna say Bynum a HOF.. Odom a HOF or SASHA… or Shannon Brown were HOF’s so please respect KB24.. for winning 5 out of 7… while LeBron is still at 4 outta 10.. that’s 40 percent that’s a failing grade and that counts
The thing is, why brought up about saying “Kobe only got his rings because of Shaquille.” What’s the point there? Are u saying that Kobe won’t be able to have the rings without Shaquille? What a crazy point u have there, when we all know that without Shaquille, Kob was able to bring the Lakers to finals 3 times almost 4 if not for the injury he suffered but was able to bring the LA to playoffs. And was able to produced 2 rings without Shaquille…why always brought up Shaquille?
Stephen A it’s wembanYAMAN NOT wembanYANA
Stephen please stop this nonsense, You get paid more than anybody to do this job, Stop talking these lies into existence, Where you put Kobe Mike and Bron is opinion based, But kobe being top 3 is not an opinion its a fact and for you to say Kobe aint even the greatest laker and to put a guy over him that played in the damn 80s is just blasphemous!
No damn way Lebron is over Kobe. Wrong.
People even "experts" don't watch or play basketball, they read and compare stats.
I'm not even going to go mention accolades because if we're measuring accolades then we're not naming the best player we're talking about the most decorated player.. and then Bill Russell should be number one, but he isn't either.
As a basketball players both Kobe Bryant & Michael Jordan perfected the game , there was not a flaw in their games, both Kobe & Michael competed in tougher eras…
Michael literally competed against people trying to physically hurt him & Kobe competed and peaked in the 'deadball era' when hardly ever there were games finishing with one team scoring 100 points he was doing superhuman stuff like outscore the entire Mavericks (Dec. 20th, 2005) squad that went to the finals.. (in that season)
Everyone wants to bring 'mr selfproclaimed' into the conversation…maybe because he has an "sports"/media agency pushing, creating and paying for a narrative; but wasn't Mr selfproclaimed the guy that couldn't win a gold metal in the world cup and the Olympics, ehen it was his turn?.. wasn't until Kobe showed up that it was proven who was the real alpha?
Kobe was such an alpha that kicked SHAQ out of the Lakers and refused to play with another superstar (he blocked KG to the lakers because he knige had to do it alone,somethytge other guy has never even consider) because he wanted to win it all without any asterisk… KOBE WANTED TO DEFEAT THE BEST, NOT TO JOIN THEM.
Now if we're talking about field goal percentage, true shooting.. again this is almost a different sport, games nowadays finish with teams scoring up to 300 points combined… BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY….
Are we going to compare dunks and lays up during the (the last decade) softest defensive era ever when he (mr selfproclaimed) is been sourrouded for an entire decade by other superstars (more offensively gifted than him) in superteams assambled by him????
vs contested mid and long range jumpshots during the last real defensive era????
Kobe is, was, has always been a better shooter, a better defender, has/had better handles, better footwork and is more sports pshyco… He is willing to sacrifice himself for a victory like maybe nobody has ever before… Are going to talk about how he won a championship with a broken finger (broken index in his shooting hand Dec 11, 2009) during the 2010 during the playoffs & finals run???
Mr selfproclaimed… Not only is not a real alpha.. he looks up for excuses… BUT SOMETHING NOBODY TALKS ABOUT.. is how he is constantly traveling.. the NBA allows him to get away with it, but realistically from a purist point of view he has NO BAG whatsoever… poor handles, horrible footwork, he is a bad shooter..(and it has gotten better)… He is physically an unstoppable animal.. but he is heavily favored by today's rules… He has NO midrange, no jumpshot… He is an average (now he was terrible back then) free throw shooter… Is he really the second best player ever???? NO HE IS NOT… Not in accolades, (especially if we add the context) "he allowed" (not really Steph earned it) an average sized guy drafted to the worst team team in the last decades prior to him to establish an entire dinasty by changing not just the league.. But the whole sport.. all in allegedly "his" era. (*this is actually Steph's era and people in the future will realize*)
*1 MJ
2 KOBE
3 STEPH.
ALL TIME, ALL TIME.*
People forget very easy or they don't know what really happened in 00s…nobody will pick Kobe over Shaq and Duncan..if they have to build a team..so if someone can't be no1 in his own era how will be the GOAT
This is a Exactly what Katt Williams was talking… the Plant.
The power at be… is PUSHING THIS NARRATIVE. Souls Sold.
SAS IS THE MAIN ONE LOOKING FOR CLICKS… THIS GUY IS THE ABSOLUTE WORST
Lebron is a freak of nature…that's it. He is not even TOP TEN.
In my opinion what puts kobe second in this discussion is not only his 5 rings. It's the fact that he had 2 without the most dominant center during that era. Thirdly he did it all with one team, and without having a 3 star roster. He had pau and Bynum, along with an above average cast.
why has this not been uploaded onto spotify?
Stephen A Smith you are one of the most respectful, popular, and watched basketball journalist. You are love and listen to by a WHOLE lot of people from all ethnic group. Now I'm going to respectfully let you know that:
1. When you said that Allen Iverson should not have KOBE number 2, I respectfully disagree with you because everyone has an opinion and that's his. You also mentioned that KOBE is the second greatest shooting guard of all time in your opinion, however, in your top 10, you do not have KOBE number 6, how is it possible for you to have MJ number 1 and KOBE not 6 based on your reasoning? Please explain.
2. You conveniently said KOBE played with Shaq in his prime and YOU didn't made any mention of Magic played with Kareem him his prime and all his rings came with Kareem, not to mention Lebron James, who played with in their primes? Please explain.
3. As I said before Stephen A Smith you do entitled to your opinion likewise everyone else.
I could go on and on and on.
Stephen A, you ONLY gives bias data to try to diminish others greatness.
And guest what KOBE is 1A to MJ in most people eyes, however, for me KOBE is the G.O.A.T. in my simple opinion.
The media just couldn't stand seeing KOBE won 2 rings without Shaq and no top 75 players on his team. That hurt them a lot because they were saying KOBE couldn't win without Shaq.
Your not a good friend. You're takes always have to BENIFIT you and your narrative. We' see you now steve… smh
Oh damn Stephen A, that wasn't the answer you were expecting from Shaq when you asked him about what Rashad McCants said about the G.O.A.T KOBE. Respect to the Diesel. He knows what time it is.
McCants is a fucking stooge
Why tf is the media always tryna force a beef ?! I dead just sat here and watchin Stephen A and Brian Wharthog try to cook up a beef between wemby and Chet for 5 mins 🤦🏾♂️😭😭 them boys competitive they naturally gonna go at each other when they play cus that’s who they are it’s already set we don’t need all the extra bs
Stephen A will have an Emmy!
Stephen A and Skip debated if Kobe is better than MJ every day on their show for 10 years and now all of a sudden he's barely top 10? I'm sorry that is not acceptable for Stephen A to use Kobe to build up his platform while he was alive and then cast him aside and say oh he might barely make my top 10 after he passes away
Lebron is the GOAT HANDS DOWN
in what moment exactly did lebron become greater than tim duncan??? lebron is like #9 tops