Club Shay Shay - Stephen A. Smith Part 2 REWIND

Summary

Club Shay Shay - Stephen A. Smith Part 2 REWIND
Released June 25, 2025
Host: Shannon Sharpe
Guest: Stephen A. Smith

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Introduction

In this riveting episode of Club Shay Shay, NFL legend Shannon Sharpe sits down with renowned sports commentator Stephen A. Smith to delve deep into the intricacies of the NBA. The conversation spans from legendary figures like Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen to contemporary stars such as LeBron James, Steph Curry, and James Harden. Beyond player analyses, the duo explores themes of personal integrity, media responsibility, and maintaining privacy in the public eye.

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Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen: A Complex Relationship

The episode kicks off with a critical discussion about the portrayal of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen in the documentary series The Last Dance. Stephen A. Smith expresses frustration over narratives that overshadow Pippen's contributions:

[02:14] Stephen A. Smith: "Let me tell you how it started, okay? ... Why are you putting Scottie Pippen in there for an event that you weren't even on the team on?"

Shannon Sharpe counters by highlighting his firsthand experience and support for Pippen:

[04:01] Shannon Sharpe: "I'm picking him up from the courthouse. He was living with me in my basement."

The conversation underscores the tension between personal experiences and public narratives, emphasizing the importance of fair representation.

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Current NBA Stars: Evaluating Impact and Leadership

LeBron James:
Stephen A. Smith lauds LeBron as one of the greatest, acknowledging his multifaceted impact both on and off the court:

[14:09] Stephen A. Smith: "Matt. LeBron James is one of the greatest to ever do it. ... This dude is phenomenal, man."

Steph Curry:
A debate ensues over Curry's role, distinguishing between a traditional point guard and an impact player:

[12:15] Stephen A. Smith: "That’s what I was trying to say. Which is why, even though if you're talking about a prototypical point guard, you will pick others before him, if you're talking about impact, it's him and Magic Johnson."

[13:53] Shannon Sharpe: "When you look at LeBron. Let's take LeBron and you, you were covering the NBA when LeBron got in."

James Harden:
Stephen A. Smith offers a critical take on Harden's career decisions and their repercussions:

[21:14] Stephen A. Smith: "What I'm talking about is this... I can't support that."

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Player Conditioning and Commitment: The Backbone of Success

The importance of physical fitness and dedication is a recurring theme. Stephen A. Smith emphasizes that a player's commitment to conditioning directly influences their performance and legacy:

[41:04] Stephen A. Smith: "I just gotta be honest. I don't think he cares enough."

Discussing Zion Williamson, Smith questions his commitment to maintaining optimal physical condition:

[40:07] Stephen A. Smith: "And if you're questioning somebody's commitment to conditioning, you question whether or not they care. And that's really what it comes down to."

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Maintaining Privacy in the Public Eye

Navigating fame's challenges, both hosts discuss the delicate balance between public persona and private life. Stephen A. Smith shares his stringent approach to privacy, especially concerning his family:

[45:01] Stephen A. Smith: "Number one, I'm quick to sell somebody to mind their damn business. ... I have been that way my entire adult life and I will never change when in that regard."

Shannon Sharpe echoes the sentiment, emphasizing the protective measures taken to shield their personal lives from public scrutiny.

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Advice to Young Journalists: Navigating the Modern Media Landscape

Stephen A. Smith imparts invaluable advice to aspiring journalists, stressing the evolution of media consumption and the importance of branding:

[53:25] Stephen A. Smith: "First of all, understand that everything feeds off of information. ... Content is king, right? Content will never go anywhere."

He underscores the necessity of business acumen in journalism, advising a minor in business to complement their media pursuits.

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Personal Reflections and Mentorship

The conversation shifts to personal anecdotes, highlighting the influence of mentorship and the impact of supportive figures like Skip Bayless:

[57:35] Stephen A. Smith: "He's a different animal, you know? ... I would never disrespect him. That doesn't mean I can't respect."

Shannon Sharpe reflects on meaningful interactions and the guidance received, emphasizing the importance of maintaining professional relationships.

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Concluding Thoughts: Resilience and Dedication

As the episode nears its end, both hosts reinforce the values of resilience, dedication, and mutual support within the sports industry. Stephen A. Smith emphasizes the responsibility to uplift and support peers:

[63:11] Stephen A. Smith: "It's my responsibility and I'm dead serious. ... We ain't going down, brother."

Shannon Sharpe shares a poignant moment with guest Tabitha Brown, reinforcing the message of peace and perseverance amidst challenges.

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Key Takeaways

• Fair Representation: The nuanced relationship between Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen highlights the importance of balanced narratives in sports storytelling.

• Impact vs. Role: Distinguishing between a player's role and their overall impact is crucial in evaluating their legacy.

• Commitment to Fitness: Physical conditioning remains a cornerstone of athletic success and longevity.

• Privacy in Fame: Maintaining a private life amidst public scrutiny requires deliberate and consistent efforts.

• Evolving Media: Young journalists must adapt to the changing media landscape, emphasizing content creation and business acumen.

• Mentorship and Support: Building and maintaining supportive professional relationships fosters growth and resilience in the industry.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Stephen A. Smith on Media Narratives:

  [02:14] "Why are you putting Scottie Pippen in there for an event that you weren't even on the team on?"

• Stephen A. Smith on LeBron James:

  [14:09] "Matt. LeBron James is one of the greatest to ever do it."

• Stephen A. Smith on Player Conditioning:

  [40:07] "I just gotta be honest. I don't think he cares enough."

• Stephen A. Smith on Journalism Advice:

  [53:25] "Content is king, right? Content will never go anywhere."

• Stephen A. Smith on Resilience:

  [63:11] "We ain't going down, brother."

---

This episode offers a profound exploration of basketball's present and past, intertwined with personal insights on media integrity and maintaining one's identity amidst fame. Listeners gain a deeper understanding of the complexities within the sports industry, the significance of personal dedication, and the evolving landscape of journalism.

Transcript

[Stephen A. Smith]

This is an iHeart podcast.

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[DJ Wells]

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[Shannon Sharpe]

Thank you for coming back. Part two is underway.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Did you talk about Mayweather?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right, Mayweather.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I would say the same about Jordan, but that's a different.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, there you go.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I mean, I'm glad that you heard that. I mean, that's what I'm talking about. That's what I'm saying, you know? Cause Jordan will make you look like you're less than what you are.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Like before Scotty.

[Stephen A. Smith]

LeBron. Scotty LeBron will beat you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I know he ain't.

[Stephen A. Smith]

But MJ will make you look like less than what you are.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I know Scotty. Scotty. I know Scotty's on his don't call list and don't invite because what's transpired and everything, you know, but that ain't Scotty's fault.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Scotty was wrong. Scotty was wrong.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, yeah. But no, no, no, no, no, no.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Let me tell you how it started, okay?

[Shannon Sharpe]

You know, it started in the last dance, okay. Because the last dance was supposed to be about Jordan's last dance. Why are you putting Scottie Pippen in there for an event that you weren't even on the team on?

[Stephen A. Smith]

Let the journalist in me correct you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Go ahead.

[Stephen A. Smith]

The last dance was about the last season for the Chicago Bulls.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay?

[Stephen A. Smith]

The last season.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Stephen A. Smith]

So what happened is, is that they all on their way out, so you're telling different stories about them and their careers with the Bulls while they're fading into the twilight.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Stephen A. Smith]

So that kind of stuff does make it relevant.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But, you know, you gonna make Scotty look bad.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Well, Scotty deserved.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But you don't have to tell it. There are a lot of times, Steven A.

[Stephen A. Smith]

But wait a minute now. It ain't like he said, yo, man, this is the woman he was messing with or something. No, he said, yo, you passed up this contract. You wanted more money. I mean, damn, that's public information. Ryan Stork, don't sign this deal. Cause if you sign this deal, you can't come back to me. Cause I'm not gonna renegotiate your deal.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I get it.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I mean, damn, Michael Jordan's gone. You want to be that dude, and then you gonna sit up there and refuse to enter the game because of Tony Ku, Coach. I mean, that happened in front of millions of people watching. It did. Come on, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You don't gotta tell the story, though.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Why not? It's part of the story.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But Jordan was there.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Let me ask you, you telling information.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That you wasn't around?

[Stephen A. Smith]

Let me ask. Oh, excuse me. Excuse me. Jordan was still around. He was coming to visit the team. Scottie Pippen wearing the sneakers, kicking his feet up. Look at the bottom of the soles of the shoes. Jordan, come on back. Come on back. All that other stuff. Hell, yeah. Jordan wasn't there then. You didn't say nothing about that. By the way, where did you play? Did you play in Denver?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Did you play in Baltimore?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Stephen A. Smith]

So we shouldn't talk about that. Yeah, we shouldn't talk. We shouldn't talk about. Well, so whatever happened in Baltimore, we need to be. We need to keep that quiet. Whatever happened to Devil, we need to keep that quiet.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But here's the thing.

[Stephen A. Smith]

It's a part of your story.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But here's the thing. Just the way I look at it, I'm not gonna tell an event that I wasn't a part of. So anything that happened in Baltimore from 2000 and 2001, if I tell it in my story, I can tell it in my story. Cause I was there when Ray went through what he went through in Atlanta. I was there. I was picking him up from the courthouse. He was living with me in my basement. So if I want to tell my story, I should be able to include that.

[Stephen A. Smith]

But that's a far. That's a far different angle. The man was accused of a crime. It was off the field. It was very personal. And even though you were involved in. That's his personal business, there's nothing about Scottie Pippen turning down a contract or Scottie Pippen refusing to enter a playoff game that's personal.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, but he said that's life. But he said when Scottie was talking about having the back surgery and he wanted a contract, and Jordan said he's being selfish. Even though I might agree with. I ain't saying nobody's gonna be selfish. Cause I want everybody to get as much money as they can.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Right? Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So I'm not gonna say that. But I'm just saying. I'm not saying Jordan. I just think that Scottie was surprised that Jordan took the stance that he took and said what he said.

[Stephen A. Smith]

That's fair. But I will tell you this. Jordan wasn't only the star of the show, he was also an executive.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Stephen A. Smith]

So we all know that that's. Number one is an important component to bring up number two. And more importantly, you gotta remember that was in the aftermath of him turning down the contract and then being bitter about it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You're right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'm sorry. Taking the money rather than being a bit about it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And so you took the money that Jordan and Reinstorf essentially advised you not to take.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

You ended up being bitter about it and then was willing to let the team suffer. Because you got to remember where it's personal for Jordan. If you're a tight end, which you are, and your quarterback, you say, yo, bro, don't take this money because you won't be bitter about the contract. He doesn't listen to you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

He takes the money anyway, then he's bitter about it later on and refuse to step on the field with you, leaves you out there hanging by yourself.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

You gonna have something to say.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Whoa, you mean to tell me, Jordan, they went on them championship by himself?

[Stephen A. Smith]

No, no, no, no, no, no, no. I'm talking about this. At the time he complained.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, I know.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yes. At the time he complained.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Stephen A. Smith]

At the time he was complaining about Scottie being selfish, he was on the court without him.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But that's.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And he was like, come on, you leaving me out here because of the decision I told you not to make, but you didn't listen, and you made it anyway.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But I think you. That hurts Scotty more than anything to hear Jordan say that.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Okay, fair enough. Are we sure that that's all that's hurting Scotty? No.

[Shannon Sharpe]

There's some other things that's going on behind this. There you go.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I just said ain't no such thing as just.

[Shannon Sharpe]

There's never just. There's always a reason.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I didn't say what, and I ain't gonna say what. I just asked you a relatively rhetorical question that I know you know the answer to. I think it's safe to say that we all know there's other things Scotty's a little upset about.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Okay.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay. You. And what is it with you? Like, every time you say something, you say, my sources say this, right? And it seem like players go out of their way to try to refute what you said on there.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Well, first of all, when your voice is potent and it's gonna go viral, right? And it's gonna resonate and they think it's gonna compromise their brand, that's what they gonna do. I understand that. I remember. I'll tell you a story. One time, I had a coach go up in front of reporters. Stephen A's wrong. He don't know what the hell he's talking about. I can't believe they even let him report on the team. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. And then walked by me and winked. Because he did it because he didn't want people to know he was the one who gave me the story. I've been a journalist for 30 years. I got sources all over the sports world, right? Every single segment of every single show, I get text messages. It's a player, it's a coach, it's an executive, it's a player. Personnel director. In my case, sometimes it's owners, because I know quite a few.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right?

[Stephen A. Smith]

Okay. And so I have sources all over the place. Does that mean I'm always right? Absolutely not. What happens, though, is I never said I was. I said, this is what I was told. And when you make that judgment call, what are you making a judgment call about? I ain't making a call about your personal life. I ain't making a call about something ultra invasive or whatever. You know the other day when I made the news about Lonzo, right? I'm like this. They said, yo, Stephen A. They said sometimes it's like it's hard for him to stand, to stand up from. Sit position. Position in the chair. All right. I'd heard the same thing on several occasions. Well, two years ago, you missed 42 games due to injury. The next season, you didn't miss the entire season. This season's coming up. The team announced. Think about this. The team announced in June that he would be available before the new year. Think about that, right? So I'm going like this. You gonna literally sit poolside and hop up and down in a chair from a seating position when you done missed 48% of your games in just your fourth or fifth year in your career, brother, you clearly are not healthy. Okay, you want to get literal with it, right? Maybe I shouldn't have said or whatever. That's what they said.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But that ain't playing basketball.

[Stephen A. Smith]

But you ain't exactly. So I'm like, really? That's what you want to refute? And I like Lonzo. Got nothing against him. I have nothing against his daddy, whatever the case may be. But I would say to you, go back to the days when I've covered. I was a beat writer for the Philadelphia 76ers, and I'm covering Allen Iverson and beyond. I've been a journalist for 30 years. I was a beat writer for 10. I was a general sports columnist for another seven or eight. I've been around. And so there's been plenty of times when people have refuted what I've said and then years later come to find out I was telling the truth all along. You go ahead and you deny that. I remember one time I had a player. I'm in St. Thomas. This is where my family's from. And if you go to St. Thomas, there's a spot called Red Hook. And Red Hook is where you go and you take the boat from St. Thomas to St. John's it's only a 15 minute boat ride, and I'm literally docking away from Red Hook, going into the ocean. I get a call, I want out. And they're saying I'm lying. I'm like, what the hell do you care? You already told them you leaving. It's hurting my brand. And you realize how a lot of cats are thinking. They're thinking about their social media following. They're thinking about the connections that they have. They're thinking about how that's going to be parlayed in the monetary value for themselves down the line and how it could be Compromised. And so when you see these denials, you say, all right, it makes sense, I got it. I leave it alone. But my attitude is I'm not giving you a death sentence. And I'm not talking about your personal business.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'm talking about relatively obvious stuff. Calm the hell down and stop making it bigger than what it is.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And you'll be fine.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right. The conversation that I saw, I saw a little bit of it about where Steph Curry, I think on Gil Gilbert Arenas Agent Zero's podcast, said he's the greatest point guard.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You agreed or disagreed?

[Stephen A. Smith]

I agreed, but I was mistaken. And the reason why I say I was mistaken is because what I wanted to elaborate on is when you're talking about a typical quintessential point guard, you're talking about a facilitator, right? Magic Johnson's the greatest ever. Yeah. There's no question.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

What I was talking about was impact from the position.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And to me, Steph Curry's marksmanship combined with his ability to move without the ball puts a defense's head on a swivel. And as a result of that, because of the panic he creates because of his extraordinary marksmanship, you have to pay rapt attention to him. You can't afford to barely pay attention to anybody else. And that to me is a similar impact to Magic Johnson's ability to get to the basket, throw no look passes, and especially Magic Johnson in the open court and the fast break. But if you put Magic Johnson in a half court setting, he backs you down, right. He throws the ball to Kareem Abdul Jabbar.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Open court is worthy as Byron Scott is Cooper, you know what I'm saying? And stuff like that. Pick your poison. I was talking about impact. I wasn't talking about a quintessential facilitator that's a point guard. Because Steph Curry is clearly not that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Because that's what I'm saying. I don't really look, I look at Steph as a two.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Right. I understand that because all these got.

[Shannon Sharpe]

New age guys, Dame Lillard, Steph Curry, all these guys are two guards masquerading. They just. They're not the point guard. I'm looking to point guard like Magic, right? John Stockton, Jason Kidd, Mark Jackson. When I think point guard, that's what I think.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I got you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Do we agree?

[Stephen A. Smith]

We agree. We agree, we agree. I mean, listen, Magic Johnson is so phenomenal and Michael Jordan's been arguing with me about this forever because Magic Johnson is the greatest in the. His eyes as well. So you know what I'm saying? It's one of those.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And ain't no changing that dude's mind.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Ain't no changing Michael Jordan's mind. You ain't got no snowball chance in hell of pulling that off. But, but, but, but he's right. And, and, and Eddie Johnson does NBA radio. He's absolutely right. He was talking about a Mad Dog Russo, a historian. He was talking about. He was absolutely right. We know that as a pure passer, Magic Johnson is the greatest facilitator the game has ever seen.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

But I'm saying as an impact, you could talk about Steph Curry being a two guard, but I would tell you, he has the ball in his hands enough. The offense runs through him, and the impact his marksmanship creates creates just as much havoc as Magic Johnson created. And that's all I was trying to say. Which is why, even though if you're talking about a prototypical point guard, you will pick others before him, if you're talking about impact, it's him and Magic Johnson.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. Oh, there's no question it's him.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Imagine.

[Shannon Sharpe]

There's no denying that.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Exactly.

[Shannon Sharpe]

When you look at LeBron. Let's take LeBron and you, you were covering the NBA when LeBron got in.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yep.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I said LeBron is overachieved because no matter what you thought he might be, ain't no way in hell you thought he would be this good. Stephen A.

[Stephen A. Smith]

No, I didn't. That's why I got him number two all time. Matt. LeBron James is one of the greatest to ever do it. And listen, we're gonna miss him when he's gone. I can sit up there and I can have my basketball decisions as Michael Jordan. One, him two. But I gotta tell you, man, I got so much love and respect for LeBron and a lot of people, they misconstrue. You know what I mean by that when I say I got love for a brother that I barely know because it's not like I talk to him every day or whatever. Even though we accord you to one another in the whole nine, I'm saying I appreciate who you are and what you've meant.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Stephen A. Smith]

To our community, to basketball, to young men, particularly young black men everywhere. This dude is phenomenal, man. And to be a guy that was on the COVID of Sports Illustrated and the only blemish in his entire career is that I'm taking my talents to south beach, that is literally the only stain on his career.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And he raised money for the boys and Glory.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I mean, it's ridiculous. A businessman extraordinaire. Actor. He did a great job. I'm joking. When I put the tick of him. Great actor. Great. Because. Because, you know, we so sensitive about LeBron James. Actually had a ticket creator for first date. Great actor, great businessman. It's gonna be there for you. It's gonna be there when you bring him out. I said, can we get it out the way? Cuz I want to make sure he knows I recognize all the greatness about him. Listen, the movie Trainwreck, did you see what he did in Train Wreck? He was great. He was great. He did a great job. You know, with Amy Schumer, I believe. I mean, he was fantastic. You know, I got it. But the point is, is that the dude is phenomenal on a multitude of levels. And what he has done for us as black people in this nation in terms of his business acumen, his commitment to excellence. You know, this brother takes care of his body. He's always in shape. I mean, I looked at. He's the reason that I got mad at Anthony Davis last year, because I'm looking at Anthony Davis. You know this brother vouched for you, right? You know this brother.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He put his name on the line.

[Stephen A. Smith]

He put his name on the line for you, right? I know you. I know you got him the ring in the bubble. But you understand it don't stop there, right? Right. How is he in better shape than you? How is he more focused and dedicated than you? Could you take your ass over his house and mimic his workout? Use his trainer? Use his nutritionist, do something. You understand what I'm saying? I'm like. It's like, come on now. Look, man, I'm, I'm, I'm. I'm the star. First date. Let me tell you something, Shannon Shaw. I'm gonna do some more push ups, bro. Yes. I'm saying I'm gonna change my diet even more. I ain't gonna let you down, bro. I'm not. I'm not gonna be there. I got Shannon and RC sitting across.

[Meta AI]

Meta AI is the personal AI to help you with whatever you need. Plus, it meets you where you are. Not only is Meta AI now an app, but it's also on the apps you already know and love. Facebook, Instagram app, and Messenger. Plus the Ray Ban Meta glasses. It's easy to access wherever you are. So whether you're talking or texting, Meta AI is convenient to use throughout your day. Experience Meta's newest AI that's tailored to you by download. The Meta AI app. Try the Meta AI app today on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

[DJ Wells]

Yo, this is DJ Wells from Club 520 podcast. Draft night ain't just about who goes number one. It's about how you show up. And JD Sports is where the future of the league gets laced up. Whether it's Dylan Harper's tenacious two way play or Trey Johnson, sharpshooter from deep down south, JD's got the gear to match every draft story. From exclusive kicks to player collabs, JD Sports is the plug for the next level style. So while the league's getting younger, your fit's getting fresher. JD Sports, where the game meets your streets. Visit jdsports.com to check out their new collection or download the JD app today.

[IBM Representative]

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[Stephen A. Smith]

Him with his fitness facility in Louisiana and all of this other stuff. And I'm a roll around with a belly and looking all shit. Oh, no, no, no. It ain't going that. It ain't going down like that. I'mma be in shape, bro. I've been getting in shape. I already lost some pounds. I reduced my body fat in half. I did all that. But what I'm. I'll never be the. The black hulk that you are. I ain't trying to do that. But you ain't gonna look at me and go like this. Damn, he need to get in the gym. He ain't in shape.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Stephen let himself go home.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I ain't gonna do that. I ain't gonna do that. How? How I'm gonna bring that day. You got Molly sitting in the middle and stuff like that. You sitting across from me. I'm like. And I'm looking shabby. Nah, it ain't going down like that. And I'm looking at Anthony Davis like, ain't. There's nothing inside of you that said that you know I need to be in shape, right? You gonna drop 41 game and 11 the next that's. Come on, bro. Come on, bro. You know, it's like you looking at LeBron and I literally. I almost went on the air and was like, you know LeBron, I'm sorry I felt that bad for you, because I'm like, in his 20th year in the league. He's in better shape, and he the best player, and he actually don't want to be. He actually wishes you were in better shape. He actually wishes you were the better player, which you are when you bring your A game, right? But it's sporadic because of a lack of dedication, in my opinion. I don't know that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right?

[Stephen A. Smith]

But I'm like, wouldn't you think that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Stephen A. Smith]

If you. LeBron, you're like, wait a minute. When something missing, you ain't doing something.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right, bro, I'm almost 10 years more in the league with more wear and tear.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Come on, man. Come on, man. And you in la, and you know this. Cause you've been out here, you live out here now la, a different flavor, you know, you got to be disciplined to be out here. You can't. You, you, you. You can't easily locate the distract. I mean, they are easy to find.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Stephen A. Smith]

The distractions.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Well, that's the thing with disciplines. It requires you to do your best when no one. You think no one is watching.

[Stephen A. Smith]

There you go. There you go. You know what I'm saying? Listen, when I'm in la, bro, I don't come outside until I finish my work other than first take. I don't come outside until I finish my workout. Because I know once I get outside, it's gonna be a while before I get back. I'm just not gonna be there. Because I'm just not. I'm just not gonna want. I'm just not. You know what I'm saying? You know, we're gonna be working together.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's right. We're gonna be. Hey, we're gonna be in the gym together.

[Stephen A. Smith]

We'll be going in the gym with you, Shannon, doing that. I'm not. Listen, you want. You want a meme that people will be laughing at me for the next two decades? Have me in the gym with Shannon Sharpe. Come on, man. You know what I'm saying? That's like the Rock standing next to Snoop Dogg. We ain't doing that. We had the. Snoop is My Dog.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You know?

[Stephen A. Smith]

You know I love you, baby. You know I love you. You know? I mean, come on, now. I ain't doing that. I'm not getting in the gym with you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Just one workout.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Huh?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Just one workout.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'm gonna work out every. I. Listen, I work out. You know what? I might do that. I might. I'm gonna wait a few months, though. I'M gonna wait a few months. I'm not gonna do that just yet.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay. Dame.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yeah, man.

[Shannon Sharpe]

In James Harden situation.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yes, sir.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Dame is, you know, he. Look, he saw James harden get fined 100,000 for calling Daryl Morey a liar. He's like, I ain't. I ain't trying to, you know, lose any of my money. So what's your take on those situations?

[Stephen A. Smith]

Well, when I think about Dame, it's more sensitive for me because Dame could have demanded out on several occasions, and he never did. And it's Portland. It ain't like he didn't demand out of LA or Miami.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

He didn't demand out of Portland.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Okay.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And he was never gonna get anybody to come to Portland.

[Stephen A. Smith]

He was never gonna get anybody come to Portland.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He was coming to Portland.

[Stephen A. Smith]

So now that he's been there a decade, and he's like, it's time. Look out for the brother. Now, should he have handled it a tad bit differently in terms of. All right, I shouldn't have said just Miami. Try to work behind the scenes to get this done.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Get to.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Maybe he shouldn't have done that. Right? But the bottom line is he's given Portland everything he's had.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right?

[Stephen A. Smith]

And, you know, you moving in a different direction. You draft your number, the third overall pick is your Scoot Henderson play your position. Come on, y' all, get it done. You know, and so that's how I feel. I support Dame on that. James Hard is a different animal, and I like James, but James gotta be more accountable. You got everything you want. They gave you everything but a pacifier and a bib in Houston. Whatever you wanted, they gave you. They did everything. Money, helicopter rides, massage therapists, masseuse, hang out, the strip club whenever you wanted. Everything. Go to Vegas whenever you want. Go to Vegas whenever you want. Me, they gave you everything. And Daryl Morey took care of you right to the point where Mike d' Antoni didn't even show negative plays to James Harden. When James Harden was in the film room, he showed about. Everybody else wouldn't even show him in the film room. This is me covering the NBA. I'm telling you what I know. Then you force your way out. You want to go to Philly because you want to go with Darryl Moore. You want to follow him there. But they say no. So you want to go to Brooklyn, they tell you no. Initially, you show up to camp out of shape, you make it very, very clear that you ain't trying to do anything because you're trying to get the Hell out of town. So they ultimately trade you to Brooklyn. You get in Brooklyn, they. You force your way out of there because you want to go with Daryl Morey in Philly, which is where you want to go all along. Now, although we can't absolve Daryl more if you lie to the man you lied to.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Ain't nobody giving. Ain't nobody blaming 15, 20 million back.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Seriously, I'm gonna get this back.

[Stephen A. Smith]

That's right. You know, if you told him that you owe him that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Correct.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Fit. Period. But why is anybody going to be sympathetic to James Harden with what James Harden has done on three separate occasions?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And now you're doing it a fourth. And you got to remember when he was in Houston, I want Dwight Howard. I don't want Dwight Howard. Want Carmelo Anthony. Don't want Carmelo Anthony. I want CP3. I don't want CP3. I want Russ. I don't want Russia. And not one single championship to show for. Ain't like you a champion making these demands. You getting paid. You a showstopper. We get it. But you have no championships to show for any of your efforts. At some point in time, somebody got to be willing to say to you, yo, can you give me a little bit more? Oh, by the way, don't get me started with closeout games in the playoffs. Yeah. We just saw what you did in the game seven, nine points, three for 11 shooting in a game seven closeout game against Boston. You had them for game six. You were up three, two on your home turf in Philadelphia, and look what happened. Those are the kind of things that I'm talking about. And so when something like that happens, man, I can't support that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I can like him and be cool with him, but I can't support those.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Some of the decisions that he's.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Can't do it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

What's KD's legacy going to be?

[Stephen A. Smith]

What's Kevin Durant's legacy gonna be?

[Shannon Sharpe]

I think Stephen a, he was up 3:1 on the Golden State Warriors. He's up 3:1 on a 73 win team, lose game five, lose game six, lose game seven. And in games five and six and seven, games five and six, he shot the ball terrible.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yeah. I will tell you this. I think that Kevin Durant is one of the greatest players that. That I've ever seen. But when I saw how things materialized in Brooklyn and then he went to Phoenix and got bounced out in the second round at Denver, what I said was, I can't put him above LeBron. I used to look at him in his offensive arsenal and think that. But what I realized is that I'm not showing enough respect and appreciation to the leadership that LeBron has exerted and exhibited. LeBron has been the face of every franchise he's been on, even though D. Wade was that leader in Miami. And when you look at LeBron, what he had to deal with with Kyrie, you know, what he had to deal with when he arrived in la, what he had to deal with with all the vitriol aimed in his direction in Miami and stuff like that, mental toughness, ultimately, leadership, accountability, you know, of course, as years in Cleveland, of course, when you look at all of these things, he showed an ability to deal with things Kevin Durant did not, right? Kevin Durant is a phenomenal player, a good brother, really authentic in a lot of ways. I got a lot of love for him. He is a two time champion, a two time NBA Finals mvp. We can't. I don't care that he's playing with the Golden State Warriors. He averaged 35. He was the MVP. He balled out. You know, he showed his greatness. But the problem that I would tell you, that was really put on display in Brooklyn. He needed to be a leader, but.

[Shannon Sharpe]

He doesn't want that. He's already told you that.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And that's the difference. LeBron wants it. LeBron wants to be the leader, right? LeBron accepts it. You know, you know, Kyrie is Kyrie. And you know, I'm not here to, I'm not going to throw no shade. Me and Kyrie have had our issues. That stuff has been resolved. But the point is, is that at the end of the day, Kyrie, that is somebody that Kevin Durant, if he were that leader, had to reel in, right? By simply saying, man, I bump all this. We trying to win the chip, right? Kyrie doesn't hurt his ankle against Milwaukee in the playoffs, Brooklyn might have won it, all, right? Because I think they win that series against Milwaukee, I do too. And I think they could have beaten Phoenix, right? I mean, it's just that simple to me. And so when I'm looking at it from that perspective, I'm just saying to myself, you Kevin Durant, it's about living and let, living and let. And I'll do my job right now. It's about making sure that the ultimate job is to try to win the chip, right? And letting nothing stand in the way of that. If you want a football field, Ray Lewis might have been the leader. You ain't gonna be quiet if you see CATS blowing your opportunity to win the super bowl championship, you're gonna be like, yo. And I remember when Isaiah Thomas, the great Isaiah Thomas, two time champion hall of Famer Isaiah Thomas was arguing with me one time about Kyrie. And I said, I said to him it was over the vaccine thing. And I said, I'mma end this conversation right now, Zeke, by one simple question. If a member of the Detroit Pistons, that was such an integral part of your championship hopes, took that position, what would you have done? Isaiah started laughing. He said, as a team, we had snatched his ass up, we had sat him down, tied him up and we had injected the shit into myself. He said, now he might have been.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Mad at us, you might be mad at us, right?

[Stephen A. Smith]

But we would have done it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right?

[Stephen A. Smith]

I said, I rest my case.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

All I'm saying is, is that at the end of the day, we trying to win and anything that gets in the way of that is secondary.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

To that actually being the priority. That's all I'm saying. And I think Kevin Durant should have had that attitude and I don't think he did.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You look at the west, the Nuggets won the championships. I like Nicola Jokic. I think he's one of the two best players in all of basketball ball. You got Phoenix. This is a year Book and KD together. Y Bradley, Bill joined Y. You got the Warriors, CP3. What's going to be his role in that situation? The Lakers. If Anthony Davis is healthy, I like that they, they have depth. Austin Reeves, I like him.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I like him.

[Shannon Sharpe]

What's. How, how's the west going to shake out?

[Stephen A. Smith]

First of all, we always root for the Lakers because they're in Southern California. Yeah, I mean, we, you know, if you ask me, do I want to go to San Francisco or la? Is LA all day, every day? Yeah, twice on Sundays. So. So just for my own personal preferences, yeah, it's always la, la. Miami is my dream scenario. That's why I was so miserable during Company. Because the one time I wanted to get my dream, oh, you can just go Miami, you go day in the bubble. I was so depressed. I was so depressed. But I, I'll tell you this. I don't believe in Anthony Davis in terms of his availability. I'm not talking about his skill set, I'm not talking about whether he cares or not. I'm talking about injury prone, sporadic. There's something going on with him where instead of talking about me getting in the gym, you need to be talking to him to get in the gym because he's just up and down. It's like. It's like. It's like this brother sat up there and ate a healthy meal one day and then ate a bag of skin Skittles the next. And it's the just plummet. You know what I'm saying? I don't understand it and I can't have faith in that. I think they'll make the playoffs. I think they'll be formidable. I dismiss the Clippers because I just don't believe that Kawhi Leonard will ever be healthy. I just don't believe it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Well, Paul George has missed damn near as much time.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I agree with you. That's totally, totally true, Troy. I remember I just saw the numbers recently. I think Paul George misses about 38% of his games and Kawhi's at 48%. So I think it's around that Paul George talk about he gonna play bully ball and all that. So we'll see. You understand? Especially he was talking him and Devin Booker was going back and forth. I got to see that because I know Devin Book is coming. Yeah, he that dude.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Devin Book is real. And I'm talking about his mentality. Yeah, he ain't scared of nothing. He coming for you. So I definitely respect that. And we're gonna see what Bill and KD do together as well. Phoenix to me should be the favorites. You look at Denver, they're obviously formidable and you got that cohesive. So I would tell you a rematch between Denver and Phoenix, in all likelihood the conference finals as opposed to the divisional playoff round semifinals rather. We'll see that. But that. That's what comes to my mind. I don't expect much from Dallas, even though Anthony Edwards is on the rise. I don't expect much from Minnesota. I don't expect much from Minnesota. Dallas to me, they don't have the personnel.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Do you think. Do you think Minnesota should not run the team through Anthony Edwards as opposed to camp? Yes, yes, I agree.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I agree totally. I think that Anthony Edwards is one of those dudes. He's one of those dudes. He's coming and I feel that way. But I definitely think that when you look at the two teams, I would look at Phoenix and Denver and then I would look at the Lakers and Clippers on the outside on a come up.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

That's how I view the West.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You didn't mention the Grizzlies, obviously, the job situation. Hopefully I think they'll appeal.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I should have mentioned the Grizzlies.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They're appealing his 25 game suspension. So I'm under the assumption that it's going to stick. Let's just say for the sake of, for this argument, it's going to stick.

[Stephen A. Smith]

It's going to stick.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You've been outspoken. Yep, I've been very outspoken. And I don't know Ja, but if I could sit down, I just think he was, I just thought he was moving in a direction that wasn't conducive to accomplish what he really, really wanted to accomplish. That's being an outstanding basketball player. Be a brand. The job brand, being one of the faces of the NBA.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I agree with you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

What if there's some advice you could give him? I don't know how well you know his dad.

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[Stephen A. Smith]

I don't. I've met him both once. Ja's a great player, Josh.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Phenomenal.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And I think that Ja is going to come back with a vengeance. You know, I really, really believe he's going to come back with a vengeance. He's going to wreak havoc. And I love the acquisition of Marcus Smith.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Smart.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I got Boston, by the way, as my favorite overall.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Really?

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yes, I do.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Wow.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I think Porzingis at 7:3 with the ability to step away from the basket and shoot, combined with Tatum and Brown, still keeping Al Horford. Okay. And Robert Williams in the mix with a Derek, with a Derrick White, with a Malcolm Brogdon, the reigning sixth man of the year. I think when you look at their depth, the athleticism, their perimeter shooting, their ability to defend, the fact that Missoula has a year under his belt coaching the team, I think all of those things bode well for Boston. They've been knocking on the door long enough. You, Jaylen Brown, you just signed for $300 million, you damn well better show up. And if you. And if you, Jason Tatum, who's in line for about 360 million, you damn well better show up. And so I'm going to assume that they will. But I think Mark is smart. Losing him, it'll be felt to some degree, but I definitely think it's going to help Memphis immensely.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And I think that, you know, and I think that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And you get big Stephen Adams back.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And Clark, and people don't realize Adams and Clark being gone. Lakers don't beat them like that. If Adams and Clark are healthy, that just doesn't happen because Adams and Clark are no joke. And so I take that into consideration as well. Having said all of that, I'm not sure on their shooting collectively.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Okay. So that concerns me. I think they're sporadic defensively. That concerns me. I think their coaching concerns me to some degree. So I look at Memphis, but in terms of my advice to Ja, it's this, man, some people you got to leave behind. And I don't mean cut them off like you don't know them. I don't mean cut them off like you can't be with them, but I'll give you a perfect example. I got brothers that I grew up with in Queens, New York. Half of them are dead because, you know, the drug game was real prevalent then. And I was blessed that I was never a part of it, but most of my friends were. And, you know, I got a couple of. I got a couple of bros that, you know, did some time. And I'll always look out for them. I'll always have love for. For them. Shannon, they can't hang with me. No, they can't hang with me. You're not coming to work with Me? You're not coming to a game with me. That's not happening. Now I see your neighborhood. What's up? How you doing? You need me for anything? What's up? What you need? I can help you. I'm more happy to do that. So I'm not talking about ostracizing you, but the NBA is your business. What happened with John Moran cost him about $60 million. $60 million. You ain't getting that back.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No.

[Stephen A. Smith]

No matter how much money you get, you ain't getting that back. And so for me, you know, with his dad, look, I'm a father. You're a father. Here's the deal. I know you can't tell your son, literally tell him what to do. He's a grown up.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

But certain things he don't need to be doing right in front of you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Correct.

[Stephen A. Smith]

You the grown up, you dead. And you are not supposed to be trying to live the life he living. You know what I'm saying? Y' all made it and you gonna make it even more. And so it's not to cast aspersions, insult them, denigrate them in any way. Who wouldn't root for John Moran? Who ain't rooting for him to succeed? I don't know anybody that ain't rooting for him. I know I'm rooting for him. I know you rooting for him, but how are we helping you if we see you doing stuff that we know could potentially lead to your downfall and we say nothing? Are we really trying to help you if we say nothing? No, we're not trying to help you. And that's why we say something, because we want you to correct the errors so you can rise and prosper and live your life.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I don't know what you feel about this, but I said this at the time, the 75th anniversary. I said Anthony Davis shouldn't have made it over Dwight Howard.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Stan Van Gundy said, you can't make a case to say is Anthony Davis career has been better than Dwight Howard. What's your take on that?

[Stephen A. Smith]

I kind of agree. Anthony Davis was a prolific scorer, but at the end of the day, he wasn't relevant until he arrived to the Lakers with LeBron.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Correct.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Dwight Howard was a three time defensive player of the year, extraordinary shot blocker and a racer. Was never the offensive player that Anthony Davis was, but certainly was just as impactful.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And more successful because he was on a squad that Anthony Davis won a championship with as a reserve.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Which means he's got a ring too.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And so you offset that. And now look at their careers.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Even though the talent that is Anthony Davis I consider to be better than Dwight Howard.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

The impact of your career is not greater than that of Dwight Howard.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Dwight Howard took the team to the NBA Finals.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yes, he did.

[Shannon Sharpe]

In his prime. He's one of the five best players in the NBA.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Absolutely, absolutely. So I can't disagree with that. I can't disagree. I can say Anthony Davis is a better talent.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Stephen A. Smith]

But it also highlights what you must not be doing.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Because a lesser talent, that is Dwight Howard, was more impactful than you were.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right. Players under 25, you got Luca, JT, Trey Young, Zion, Anthony Edwards. You know what, Zion, because you've been very. I've been very outspoken, Stephen A. You know, I. I'm a nutritional guy, right. I'm in the bodies. And I said, he's just too big.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Right?

[Shannon Sharpe]

I said, y' all cheap, all shady. You don't know what's going on. I say, bro, the man is 300 plus. I can tell he's not eating the way he should in order to maximize too many burgers. Well, you know, you in new, you know, in New Orleans eating gumbo and etouffee and jambalaya, everything. Yeah. So how do we get. How do we get Zion to understand? Because I think the greatest person that he needs to sit down and have an hour long conversation with is Charles Barkley. He's a more athletic Charles Barkley.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I just gotta be honest. I don't think he cares enough.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Wow.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I don't think he cares enough. I'm not saying he doesn't care. I'm not talking about Karen. I'm talking about that fire, that passion.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That is the end all be all.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Because I believe he's in a market he don't want to be in. I said that I believe if he was in New York or someplace where he really, really, really want it to be, we see a more dedicated Zion to his physicality. And the point is, is that I don't know that, to be sure. But you can't walk around as big as he is.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And tell me you dedicated, right? You can't. You can't. Because even when you're, when you're restricted in terms of your mobility, you know what you'll do? You'll eat less and you'll eat better. Because you fear bloating.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No.

[Stephen A. Smith]

You'll fear blowing up and not being ready when called upon. Once you hear right. That hasn't been the case.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Because if you eat. If you eating bad while you are active and running up and down the court, what the hell you think you gonna eat when you can't run up and down the court?

[Stephen A. Smith]

That's right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So now the 30 pounds that you took off because you was healthy and athletic and running up and down the court, you better put 50 back on.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Exactly. And that's exactly how I feel, Field. And because of that, again, I love Zion's game. I believe he's a potential superstar in this league. He's something to behold. But I think it's fair to question his commitment to his conditioning.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And if you're questioning somebody's commission, you know, commitment to conditioning, you question whether or not they care. And that's really what it comes down to.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right. We was talking about players under 25. Luka, Jason Tatum, Trey Young, Zion AK, Anthony Edwards, LaMelo Shay, Gil D. Fox or Jordan Pool. I'mma give you one guy of all those guys I mentioned, who you taking?

[Stephen A. Smith]

A lot of people would say, Luca, I'm going to say Jason Tatum. Jason Tatum. 69 Jason Tatum. Shoot the three. I saw Jason Tatum drop 46 in a close out playoff game six in Milwaukee. I saw Jason Tatum handle his business in a game seven. I've seen a young Jason Tatum who ain't even 27 years of age yet be a primary option on a team that's going to five conference championship games, championship series and an NBA Finals. I, I, I just look at him and I say, and not only that, we just talked about conditioning. There have been times where we've looked at Luker and we've said he ain't in shape. He's getting in shape as the season progresses.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Correct.

[Stephen A. Smith]

We look at Jayson Tatum from day one and say he's in shape.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

That matters to me. I would go with Jason Tatum.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Andre Iguodala says the player with the mentality that's closest to Kobe Bryant is Jimmy Butler. You agree with that?

[Stephen A. Smith]

Closest to Kobe Bryant is Jimmy Butler.

[Shannon Sharpe]

As far as mentality.

[Stephen A. Smith]

You could say that. I would beg to differ.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Who you like?

[Stephen A. Smith]

Devin Booker. Jimmy Butler works. But the difference between Jimmy Butler and Devin Booker is Jimmy Butler doesn't care that much about offense until the postseason arrives.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Kobe cared about it all the time.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Stephen A. Smith]

And Devin Booker cares about it.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

All the time.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

They coming out looking for their shot from open and tip off Jimmy Butler. Sometimes you literally feel like you got to throw something at him just to make him shoot the basketball.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

He does. It's not a priority for him. And that is why I would say no on that Kobe comparison.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Not much is known about Stephen A's private life.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yep.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You, like myself, are very, very private.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yep.

[Shannon Sharpe]

How have you been able to maintain that level of privacy?

[Stephen A. Smith]

Number one, I'm quick to sell somebody to mind their damn business. You know, and that's a kind way of putting it. And I will cancel a woman in a heartbeat that talks about my business, she utters my name.

[Shannon Sharpe]

What?

[Stephen A. Smith]

Publicly. About us. She gone. I wouldn't have she happy for us. I mean, I don't care. I don't care. You know why? Because I want you to know who my woman is when she's Mrs. Smith. I'm talking about publicly.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'm not talking about, you know, Shannon. Shannon gonna beat my girl.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

You know, Jamie's met my girl. You know, I'm not talking about that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'm talking about announcing it. You see us and people talk. Oh, no, let them talk. You better not talk. I will cancel you quicker than you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So you can't. So she can't post nothing on ig.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Never. I would. She wouldn't. She wouldn't make it to my crib. I'm not joking. She wouldn't make it to my crib. She could live five minutes away. She'd be gone by five minutes. I don't play that. Because here's the thing. I'm in the public eye.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Let me tell you what the test. What I detest. And I've never done this to another man. It makes me cringe when this happens to a man. I can't get over how these stars be messing with somebody and then you with somebody else. Or that's who he used to mess with.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. Nah, they do that.

[Stephen A. Smith]

N. I mean, look who you talking about? It could be an ex. I be like, who you talking about? That's a friend. I don't know what you talking about, Steven. You just mess with a who I a mess with who know what you talking about. Ain't none of your business.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right?

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'm not. I'm not doing that.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Okay.

[Stephen A. Smith]

You know, when she misses Smith, you'll know who she is.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right?

[Stephen A. Smith]

Until that time, I might have messed with her. I might not have messed with her. You'll never know.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right?

[Stephen A. Smith]

I don't do that. And I can't stand when we see people out here, like, sharing their information. And you know it's on Instagram and Twitter. Grown ass men and women. When did everybody. When did your business become everybody else's business? I Don't. I don't vibe with. With that. I have no, no patience with that. And anybody who knows me, and I mean anybody who knows me, they'll tell you right now, I live in la, five minutes from where we are, they wouldn't make it to my crib. Being my woman. If I saw something on social media that was initiated by them about me, they out. I wouldn't hesitate. I have been that way my entire adult life and I will never change when in that regard I could be getting ready to get married. Dog wedding called dogs. So it was always game with me.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So it was always. It was always your. It was always says once you got into the public eye was to be private.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Absolutely. It's not everybody's business. It's not everybody's business. Look, I know people business. You see me, I'm on tv. I'm a professional journalist. I challenge anybody to talk about something. Stephen A talking about their personal private business. Now if you walking out in public and putting everything on display and all of that, all right, that's fine.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You know what I'm saying?

[Stephen A. Smith]

I just talked about Megan Goodna find that self the other day. Okay, I get it. You understand say, I mean, she, she been fine for years, you know, I mean, I got it, you know, stuff like that. But you don't hear me talking about people's private business. I don't do it. I don't and I never ever will.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I read what your daughters don't like when people come up to you and ask for autographs when they're in your presence.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Oh, they. Oh, oh, my Lord. Listen, man, do they have a social media presence? A little bit, but I try to monitor it and you know, I leave that to their mom. But I will tell you this for me. Oh, my God. Being a dad for daughters, it's the greatest blessing and the worst curse. Because the blessing is you didn't know what love is until you thought you knew what love was. And then they came along and now you love this. The curse is you didn't know what love is until they came along. So you're never at peace. You're always worried. You're worried about everything. You worry about everything. And they did Daddy's daughters. So they like me from the standpoint. Like, first of all, I'm not that special. I'm just. Dad, what is so big about you? I mean, please, why? All you do is talk on television. I mean, who cares? Oh, Lord, can we hurry up, please? What do they want your autograph for?

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[Jeff Teague]

This is Jeff teague from the Club 520 podcast. Yeah, we're taking over Times Squares JD Sports for a special draft takeover. We're chopping it up with the next generation of hoop stars. Top picks, fresh fits and real talk. Catch exclusive interviews, behind the scenes vibes and the crew checking out the latest heat in JD Sports. It's all going down on Club 520 podcast, powered by the Volume. Don't miss it for excitement and check out their new collection, visit jdsports.com or download JD app.

[Discover Representative]

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[Stephen A. Smith]

But then they get attitude because it's like they're taking our time, right? Hurry up, right? Like literally. And it's like. And I knew, I knew from the time my daughters was like 7, 8 years old. I came home and I had to do. I had to get to Dallas. I was supposed to go from LA straight to Dallas. I literally flew home on the red eye just to take them to school and to give them a hug and a kiss. And I took them to school, they were all happy and bouncing around and all that stuff. And I drove them to school and I said okay daddy, gotta go. They're like what? And I was like this eyes probably they gotta go to work in Dallas. And the teacher's like just go, just go right? And I get on the right, I'm going to the airport and I call the school to speak to them and they like could you call back later? They don't want to talk to you right now. And I'm like this is 78 years old, and it's like. And I knew then my life's over. It belongs to them. They run my life.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

So I squeeze in things for me.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

But they're the generals. That's how it goes.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Do your kids watch your kids? They're at the age now. They understood. Understand what you do? Yeah. So they understand what you do?

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yes.

[Shannon Sharpe]

They know who. They know who dad is.

[Stephen A. Smith]

That's right. That's right. And they see me lied on a lot because a lot of times I've been accused of saying something or doing something, and they know better. Well, I was accused of being someplace. They're like, daddy, you was with us. You know, but. But it's like, it is what it is. They understand it. And I tell them it's about tough skin. You can't. You can't overreact to everything. You either understand when you're in the public eye, people going to lie on you all the time. They're going to invade your privacy, they're going to instigate stuff. They're willing, they're looking to provoke a reaction. And I can't give it to them because if I do, then I take debate and it can jeopardize what I'm trying to build. And so you explain those things to them and you hope that they understand.

[Shannon Sharpe]

What advice would you give a young journalist? Because, you know, the newspaper business is not what it was when you got into it. Everybody gets their, you know, because it's so instantaneous. Now, Stephen A. You got social media, so now ain't nobody just sitting there watching the 6 o' clock news. And ain't nobody just.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Just reading the newspaper. Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

So what advice would you give young journalists?

[Stephen A. Smith]

First of all, understand that everything feeds off of information. You've got to be about the business of acquiring intel and information, because that means you have something to talk about, you have something to write about, you have something to express opinions about, whether it be via radio, television, podcast, newspaper, magazines, dot com, whatever, whatever. Content is king, right? Content will never go anywhere. How people are receiving that content is what has changed. Linear television was once here. Now it's dissipating before our very eyes. There are some people that are projecting. Within the next decade, YouTube will be more popular than some of the networks.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

If not already. And so you have to take that into consideration. That's point number one. Point number two is that you're trying to build something, build a brand, know who you are, know what you stand for, recognize what gravitates folks towards you and what doesn't. And that's how you go about the business of building something. Number three, master your business. You got to know what you're talking about. You got to know what you want to do. A lot of people want a podcast. Well, do you know what comes with the podcast? It ain't just a microphone and a camera. There's a production team that get, that's behind the scenes. There's a sales and marketing angle, there's a sales angle that comes with it, a marketing angle that comes with it, a technological angle that comes with it. There's people operating these cameras, you know, you know, these microphones, making sure the audio is right, etc. Well, how much is that going to cost? Okay. What level, of course, comes with it? Okay. One of the things that I would give a advice, a lot of students want to come up no matter what major you take. Minor in business, because everything comes down to business now. You've got to be about the business of knowing what your business entails. That way you know how to do business, you know what you're negotiating, you have an idea what it entails, you know when you've made mistakes and how to pick up on that. I started my own podcast months ago. I've made a lot of mistakes. Why? Because I never had a podcast before, right? I had to learn through osmosis, but I put myself through that fire initially on purpose. So when it grew, as it's been growing, then I'm in a position to now make the proper decisions because I use that, you know, that, that, that, that infancy period to really learn and gain knowledge about the industry, how much it's going to cost, what my losses and my profits look like, etc. Etc. All of those things are things that you have to know, but because the business itself that used to exist is no longer, now they're looking for you to bring your business to them. Shannon Sharp, you own your own podcast club. Shay Shay. Over a million followers, doing your thing. Proud of you, my brother. Keep doing your thing. No doubt. You got to keep doing that. You own and operate your business and there's people around you that's working for you. So you're going to be attractive because you're bringing a business to a potential network, right? To buy, to lease to, etc. Etc. They don't want to just employ people anymore. They don't want to deal with that overhead, right? They don't want to deal with the expenses that come with the overhead. They want you to deal with that now McAfee, the deal he just signed with ESPN. You got so many people hating on him. Shut up. All of y' all, shut up.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yes.

[Stephen A. Smith]

The man had his own business. He. He spent years developing his own business, betting on him, just like you bet on yourself, just like I'm betting on myself. I just started betting on myself because I was hindered contractually, and I had a lot of obstacles to overcome in my career before I could get to this point. Although this was always the vision I had to start late. This is what comes with it. When you know those things, you become a business. And as Jay Z would say, I'm not a businessman. I'm a business man. And that's what people want to see.

[Shannon Sharpe]

I'm gonna get you out of here on this one. Yeah, we both work with Skip. Yeah, you work with him, I think, a little longer than I have. And we both have given him credit for opening up his platform and allowing us to be who we are and we could grow our own platforms, become, as you mentioned earlier, businesses of ourselves. What's. What's for the people. I don't know how many people have heard. And I'm gonna follow up after you.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Sure.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Skip. What's. What's he really like? Because I think the thing is, if you've never met him, you just see him on television, you say, okay, that's him and who he is.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Skip's a different beast. I don't. I don't know if you can just describe him in one simple way. You can, you can. This dude's definition of advice is diet Mountain Dew. This dude was in the 60s and in the 70s, running anywhere from five to eight miles a day, eating the same meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner, introducing himself to his now wife and their first date. You will never be more important than my job. Get over that from now or don't bother. I mean, that's his definition of turning her on, I guess. So I'm like. I'm just like, that's. He's a different animal, you know? And there are highs and lows that come with him.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Correct.

[Stephen A. Smith]

He knows that. That there. Highs and lows that come with me. There's highs and lows that come with you and everybody else, and that's the way it goes. But, you know, I'm a man first, and it's about a core decency of appreciation. The reality is, is that no matter how problematic. And he can be problematic at times, no matter how problematic he can be, the reality is, is that I would wouldn't be where I am today if he didn't give me that opportunity on first take. And so for me to be where I am and to know that it spring. It springboards off of something that he was directly involved in making happen for me to insult him in any way is just disrespectful. It's wrong. And it's something that I will never do. Now. That don't mean I can't disrespect, disagree with him.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, absolutely.

[Stephen A. Smith]

That doesn't mean that I can't feel that he's wrong. And anybody like a Jamie Horowitz, yourself and others who know me have gotten to know me. In your case, you know, I would tell him he's wrong to his face.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

He knows where I stand, but it doesn't take away my love and appreciation for him and the fact that he will always be a brother from another mother to me.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah.

[Stephen A. Smith]

So I've always made that clear with everybody.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Yeah. It's not often that someone can give you that opportunity. And I, I. And I've said this several times. For me, I cannot let six months ruin six and a half good years. Right. Because sometimes people are willing to throw everything away for one mistake or one bad comment or one something like this. Right. And even though that was all we were supposed to get, my sister tells me this all the time. Say, shannon, this was all we're supposed to get. If I am. About five, four months ago, I had Tabitha Brown.

[Stephen A. Smith]

She's great. I've interviewed her before. She's fantastic.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Stephen A. She had no idea this was going on. So we wrapped the interview, and I'm gonna end it on this one. And I'm taking out my microphone. She says, is the mics off? I said, well, I'm taking my mic off. You can take yours off. We took our mics off, and she leans in close to me. She said, I had a dream last night. God told me it's gonna be okay. And for you to go ahead and do what you need to do, she says, it's gonna be different, but you need to go on your own now. God told me that. She said, now you do what you want to do with it.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

But God just. She said, and when I get dreams like this and I'm ever in the person's presence, it's my duty to tell them. A month later.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yeah, yeah.

[Shannon Sharpe]

And I'm like. And when she's telling me to, Stephen A. You see how you looking at me? I'm looking at her how you know what's going on.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Right.

[Shannon Sharpe]

She said, God told me this last night. And it's funny that I'm sitting here doing this interview. I did this interview with you, and I needed to tell you this. Once she told me that I was at peace because I'm racking my brain. I'm like, what did I do? Did I say something? Did I offend somebody? I mean, I just. I think I'm doing a great job. She said, be at peace with it.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Yeah. And that's what I told you.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You did.

[Stephen A. Smith]

That's what I told you. Because the reality of the situation is that, you know, I'm not gonna apologize. Listen, I got a lot of friends over there, all right? We all know that. I know a lot of people, but that don't mean that what happened to you was fair, plain and simple. Okay? That ain't the end of the world.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Nope.

[Stephen A. Smith]

But it is what it is. So, you know, to me, it was just important for us in this industry to stand up and say, yo, he's one of us. He can't let him go out like this. And that was it for me. It was like. It was just that simple. You go wherever you want. You want to come first take. Fine. You want to go somewhere else, fine. Because I got my crew here first. Taken. I'm not trying to get rid of anybody.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right.

[Stephen A. Smith]

You understand what I'm saying? Because I'm not going to do this forever. And when it's time, when it's my time to go, it's my time to go.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Right?

[Stephen A. Smith]

And it's time for somebody else to step up. But as long as I'm here, my attitude was going to be, listen, the people that have been a treasure and a tribute to this industry are the people that I'm going to do all that I can to remind folks this is what they do. I don't want to be one of those dudes that I got these platforms. First take. And I got my podcast, and I'm doing NBA Countdown, and I got more stuff coming down the line and everything like that. And all I'm talking about is what I'm doing. It's my job to highlight what everybody else is doing, too.

[Shannon Sharpe]

You one of the few, Stephen A. Because I know a lot of people that could have opportunities to help somebody, but they want to be the only ninja with money.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Nah, I don't want that. And I told you this. And I'll tell the audience that I told you this. I said, you might be a first take for one year. You might be a first take for years to come. It's my responsibility and I'm dead serious. It's a heart attack. Heart attack. It's my responsibility to make sure that you are more successful with me than you were before you arrived.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's what you told me.

[Stephen A. Smith]

That's my responsibility and I'm gonna make sure it happens come hella high water. We ain't going down, brother. We only going down. You know that's the way it's gonna be. You know that's just the way it's gonna.

[Shannon Sharpe]

Goat man coming, Uncle Stephen A you.

[Stephen A. Smith]

Know what I'm saying?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Oh, man. Hbcus you. It's the takeover.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I ain't trying to lose.

[Shannon Sharpe]

No, we don't.

[Stephen A. Smith]

I'm never about that. Anybody that knows me ain't about that. I don't mean no disrespect to nobody, all right?

[Shannon Sharpe]

Y' all heard it.

[Stephen A. Smith]

But I.

[Shannon Sharpe]

That's him. As good as it gets right here. Stephen A. Smith Monday, September 4th no doubt.

[Stephen A. Smith]

All my life been grinding all my life Sacrifice hustle, paid the price, wanna slice, got to roll a dice that's why all my life I've been grinding all my life look all my life been grinding all my life Sacrifice hustle, paid the price, wanna slice, got the rolling dice that's why all my life I've been grinding.

[Discover Representative]

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[Stephen A. Smith]

I think actually meeting someone who was not vaccinated and now has a lifelong struggle with a childhood disease really cemented for me that it's super important that we as parents continue to vaccinate our children.

[Discover Representative]

Talk to your pediatrician or visit yvaccines.com brought to you by Merck.

[Jeff Teague]

This is Jeff teague from the Club 520 podcast. Yeah, we're taking over Times Square's JD Sports for a special draft takeover. We're chopping it up with the next generation of hoop stars. Top picks, fresh fits and real talk. Catch exclusive interviews, behind the scenes vibes and the crew checking out the latest heat in JD Sports. It's all going down on Club 520 podcast. Powered by the volume. Don't miss it for excitement and check out their new collection. Visit jdsports.com or download JD app when.

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Check.

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[Stephen A. Smith]

This is an I Heart podcast.