DOUBL3 COVERAGE PODCAST
Episode 17 – "Stephen A Smith’s Nephew Josh Declares Steph As The GOAT and Guarantees A Knicks Ring"
Hosts: N3on & Mystic Zach
Guest: Josh Smith (Stephen A. Smith’s nephew)
Date: April 18, 2026
Episode Overview
In this lively episode, Mystic Zach welcomes Josh Smith—the nephew of famed sports commentator Stephen A. Smith—to the pod for a fiercely opinionated and entertaining basketball debate. As Josh attempts to claim the self-assigned title “King of New York,” he delivers hot takes on everything from Steph Curry’s GOAT case to Knicks championship optimism, all with trademark NY bravado and humor. The episode covers bold all-time NBA rankings, memorable media moments, and current NBA playoff predictions, while pulling back the curtain on the Smith family energy and sports chatter.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Josh Smith’s Background & Relationship with Stephen A (03:00-04:36)
- Josh describes growing up as Stephen A. Smith’s nephew as similar to having an “NBA dad”—but with all the blunt, real talk of a Queens upbringing.
- Despite being associated with sports media royalty, the family debates are often about life, not sports, given they support the same teams.
- Josh is now grooming his own son for the media game, hoping to “bring him up through the ranks early” like players going straight from high school to the league.
Quote:
“Y’all get the corporate TV version... I get the Hollis Queens raised in the house type stuff.” – Josh (03:06)
2. Knicks Optimism & Doubt (01:45-02:50, 07:42-08:29)
- Josh claims the Knicks are “the most complete team” entering the postseason and calls out the “perpetual doubting” of New York.
- He rails against being the butt of NBA jokes, blaming Stephen A. for feeding into the national anti-Knicks narrative.
- Josh guarantees a Knicks Finals appearance and dismisses the Cavs, Thunder, and Pacers as non-factors compared to New York and “teams with real fans.”
Quote:
“It’s the fun thing to do, to doubt the Knicks... I learned that it’s like a running joke that Stephen A started.” – Josh (02:24)
3. Bam Adebayo’s 83-Point Game & Scoring Records (05:27-07:31)
- The guys debate whether Bam’s historic 83-point night is legitimate, with Josh noting that “fouling on purpose” waters down the performance and likening it to how Kobe’s 81 is revered.
- They discuss the importance of context and style when evaluating singular achievements, noting how “the Wizards made it ugly” by seemingly cooperating with Bam's record chase.
Quote:
“If you want to come up during a parade in June, just hit me now… That’s the wrong orange and blue team.” – Josh (01:28, on Knicks swagger)
4. Knicks Player Debates: Carmelo Anthony vs. Jalen Brunson (08:29-09:25)
- Josh takes Brunson as the “more successful Knick” but refuses to put him above Carmelo:
“He ain’t better than Melo. You’ll never get me to say that. I call him Michael Jalen Brunson… but I still can’t put you above Melo.”
- He also gives an unfiltered assessment of the Knicks' "corny" personality and why that's sometimes a good thing for team culture.
5. The Steph Curry GOAT Case (10:06-15:39)
- Josh provocatively declares, “I got Steph as the GOAT, and I don’t care who don’t like it or nothing. I’m taking Mike who? I’m dying on that hill.” (10:06)
- He values Curry’s relatability, noting, “Steph looks like a mailman. He could be your gym teacher. Whoever else you have as the GOAT, it’d be like, yo, you too tall… Steph is a regular looking person.”
- Both agree Steph is “the best point guard ever,” overtaking Magic, and discuss the difficulty of ranking players from different eras.
Memorable Quotes:
- “I got Steph ahead of Mike, and I don’t care who don’t like it or nothing.” – Josh (10:06)
- “He’s the only guy under 6'6 in like, the top 15 ever.” – Zach (11:04)
- “If you don’t have [Steph] up there, you’re not watching.” – Zach (15:04)
6. Rings Discourse and All-Time Rankings (11:15-13:09)
- Debate over how Jordan’s “best playoff game” came in a loss and the over-romanticizing of losing efforts:
“Since when do we glorify somebody that got swept and losing glory?” – Josh (12:44)
- Josh focuses on context—who players faced, who was guarding them—pushing back against purely rings- or stat-based arguments.
- They touch on the flaws of using old head nostalgia and uncritical highlight worship in legacy debates.
7. Modern NBA Playoff Predictions (15:39-17:14, 32:00-33:24)
- Josh leans toward the Spurs in the West “if everybody’s healthy,” highlighting the advantage of having trusted rookie and veteran point guards.
- Questioning mainstream playoff predictions, he jokes about wanting a seat on ESPN next to Kendrick Perkins, exclaiming, “They be wrong three times a morning. I could do that. Pay me.”
8. Coaching Carousel & Media-to-Bench Pipeline (17:29-18:44, 20:24-21:06)
- Joking about JJ Redick getting the Lakers coaching job straight from podcasting, both wonder if they’re next in line:
“You take over for JJ, I’ll take over for Mike Brown. We both look like them anyway.” – Josh (17:47)
- They comment skeptically on how relationships (not resumes) get you NBA coaching gigs, referencing Doc Rivers’ endless opportunities.
9. Old Head vs. New School: Center and Shooting Guard Rankings (23:52-25:59, 26:44-27:39)
- Zack and Josh compare Jokic to historical greats, with Josh placing Jokic as his top center: “I got Jokic number one… I told you, if I see it, I say it. Ahead of Hakeem.”
- A hilarious segment follows about whether Bones Hyland would beat Michael Jordan one-on-one and why generation gaps make such rankings contentious.
Quote:
“If Michael Jordan played Bones Highland 1v1, I got Bones… It’s blasphemous when you say it, but when you think about it, 1v1?” – Josh (27:03)
10. NBA Media Personalities & List Debates (28:44-31:28)
- The guys mock the inconsistent logic of top analysts like Skip Bayless and Rachel Nichols, especially how criteria change to favor their favorite (or most hated) players.
- The flaws of NBA historical lists (Top 75, pure scorer lists) are dissected, with Josh and Zack suggesting they should be hired to fix them.
11. Consistency in Player Evaluation (36:46-38:13)
- The need for consistent standards is a recurring theme:
“Just be consistent. That’s all… if you value defense, value it; if you don’t, you don’t.” – Zach (36:51)
- Harden is discussed as polarizing—sometimes wrongly left off lists of greatest scorers.
12. Old NBA vs. New NBA—Could Today’s Guys Dominate? (39:05-41:25)
- Zack and Josh debate if Michael Jordan would be as dominant in today’s league, with Josh arguing the rise of true superteams would block a six-championship run.
- KD's Warriors are dubbed “the best team ever assembled,” and injuries as historic turning points are revisited (Durant, Kawhi).
13. Playoff & Finals Predictions (42:44-45:00)
- Josh likes the Spurs to make the Finals but insists his heart is still with the Knicks—a point he makes clear amid podcast banter and rivalry.
- The Hornets get a surprise shout as a dark horse, with an analysis of current East contenders and why he anticipates a “special run.”
14. NBA Longevity and Roster Oddities (33:32-34:57)
- The discovery that Taj Gibson is still in the league at age 40 provokes a riff on how “good guys” hang on as role models, while “louder” players end up overseas.
- Victor Oladipo and other veterans looking for roles spark thoughts on attitude vs. talent in sticking with the NBA.
15. Modern Stars: SGA’s Place in NBA History (45:26-46:18)
- The conversation closes on praise for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA), whom Zack slides into the “top 3” point guards all-time discussion, alongside Steph and Magic.
- Josh debates where SGA lands as both a point guard and a shooting guard, putting him in the tough ranks among Wade, Kobe, and Jerry West.
Notable Quotes & Moments
-
On the ESPN panel:
“I need to be with Kendrick, Perkins and them. They be wrong three times a morning. I could do that. Pay me.” – Josh (07:55)
-
On Steph Curry’s relatability:
“Steph is a regular looking person. He could be in this room engineering this podcast, and you wouldn’t think, ‘Yo, you better—you should be in the NBA.’” – Josh (10:34)
-
On media double standards:
“Everything is relationships. Doc Rivers still gets jobs. I can’t wait to see where he gonna be at next year.” – Josh (18:19)
-
On NBA legacy lists:
“Whoever be making these lists, like, hire me.” – Josh (37:43)
Breakdown By Timestamps
| Timestamp | Segment | Description |
|------------|----------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 00:39 | Josh Smith Intro | Background, “King of New York,” family ties to Stephen A. |
| 01:45-02:50| Knicks Contenders | Why the Knicks are “for real;” pushing back against national narratives. |
| 05:27-07:31| Bam’s 83-Point Game | Debating legitimacy of scoring records and game context. |
| 08:29-09:25| Brunson vs. Carmelo | Knicks all-time arguments; what makes a player “better” vs. more successful. |
| 10:06-15:39| Steph Curry GOAT talk | Major segment on Curry v. Jordan, relatability, ranking by eye test and impact. |
| 17:29-18:44| NBA Coaching/Media Crossovers | Riffing on JJ Redick, Steve Nash, and the “randomness” of coaching hires. |
| 23:52-25:59| Jokic as Best Center | Center all-time debates; Jokic crowned number one by Josh. |
| 28:44-31:28| Media/Analyst Audit | Tearing into Bayless, Nichols, media inconsistencies, and legacy list problems. |
| 36:46-38:13| Harden: A Polarizing Figure | Harden’s legacy and scorer lists—acknowledging the need for consistent criteria. |
| 32:00-33:24| Current NBA Dark Horses | Sleeper playoff picks: Hornets, Spurs analysis. |
| 45:26-46:18| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Legacy | Is SGA already a top 3 point guard all-time? |
Natural Tone & Dynamic
The episode is fast-paced, braggadocious, and deeply New York in attitude—full of heated exchanges, jokes, and friendly trash talk. Josh delights in poking holes in dominant NBA narratives, openly mocking media inconsistencies and advocating for the “eye test” over myth-making and nostalgia. Both hosts are sharp, irreverent, and unafraid to stamp their opinions loudly, making even casual fans want to jump in on the debate.
For Listeners New & Old
This episode is a must-listen for debate junkies, Knicks obsessives, and anyone who loves (or loves to hate) Stephen A. Smith’s bravado, as Josh offers both family insight and his own fiercely independent perspective. The back-and-forth on GOAT arguments, player rankings, and playoff predictions will have even casual listeners invested—and probably shouting back at the speakers.
“I am in the parade. I am the parade. You can't keep me off the street.” – Josh Smith (49:56)
End of Summary