← Straight Shooter with Stephen A.
Straight Shooter with Stephen A.
Full Show: Knicks Win! Stephen A recaps NBA Playoff stunners with ESPN's Jay Williams.
01:14:46
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- [00:00]
Stephen A. Smith
You're listening to an iHeart podcast.
- [00:05]
Talkspace Ad
This podcast is sponsored by Talkspace. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Talkspace, the leading virtual therapy provider, is telling everyone let's face it in therapy, by talking or texting with a supportive licensed therapist at Talkspace, you can face whatever is holding you back. Whether it's mental health symptoms, relationship drama, past trauma, bad habits, or another challenge that you need support to work through, it's easy to sign up. Just go to talkspace.com and you'll be paired with a provider, typically within 48 hours. And because you'll meet your therapist online, you don't have to take time off work or arrange childcare. You'll meet on your schedule. Plus, Talkspace is in network with most major insurers and most insured members have a $0 copay. Make your mental health a priority and start today. If you're not covered by Insurance, get $80 off your first month with Talkspace when you go to talkspace.com and enter promo code SPACE80. That's S P A C E80. To match with a licensed therapist today, go to talkspace.com and Enter promo code SPACE80.
- [01:17]
Jay Williams
What's up, everybody? Welcome to the latest edition of the Stephen A. Smith Show. Coming at you as I love to do at least three times a week over the digital airways of YouTube and of course, iHeartRadio. As always, I'd like to take a mom to thank my subscribers and followers for continuing to support the show. We've had millions of downloads courtesy of iheartradio over the last few months, and in the case of YouTube, we've now eclipsed more than 1.2 million subscribers. Can't thank y'all for the love and support. Enough. Keep it coming. And I'mma keep on coming to continue to like and follow the show. Just click the bell to get notified for all of our newest content and you too shall consider yourself the latest member of the Stephen A. Smith show family. And while you're doing that, please make sure to pick up a copy of my New York Times best selling book, Straight Shooter, A memoir of second chances and first Takes, now in paperback. Just go to straight shooter book.com to get yourself a copy. Once again, that's straight shooter book.com to get yourself a copy. Listen, I got a lot of stuff to get into because I saw my boy Jalen Brunson put on the show. Did you see him? Did you see him? Did you see him? You know, the three three pointers. You know, you see that? That's what he was doing to the Boston fans. It was a beautiful moment. LG Anunoby dropped another 29. Okay. Mikel Bridges missed the four first round unprotected picks giving up for him. Showed up when it counted most to give you that stability, to give you those minutes played, to give you that defensive tenacity. It was beautiful to see. It's just one game. It's just one game. But damn it, I was scared Knicks gonna get swept. That's how scared I was of this series. Cause I know who Boston is. I know what they can do. I know they're the best road team in basketball. I know they're the reigning defending NBA champions. I know that J Stadium is a stud. I know that Jaylen Brown is the reigning NBA Finals mvp. I know that they can shoot better than anybody. I know this. So I was nervous. I was nervous. And when they were down 20, I didn't like that either. But then they came scratching and clawing back and then they scored the first eight points of the fourth quarter and then they ultimately tied. Then they ultimately took the lead. And Jalen Brunson, if he hadn't missed that floater at the end of regulation, it wouldn't have been no overtime. So I was worried about that, too. But they ultimately survived, y'all. They ultimately survived. And they go up one nothing. Which means worst case scenario, meaning if they lose game two, they come back to the Garden this weekend, tie one one. And the guard is gonna be rocket. And I can't wait. So I'm very, very happy about that. Wasn't as happy about OKC wetting the bed the way that they did. Shed homegrown choking at the free throw line. Okay. Jalen Williams shooting 25 from the field, knowing you need his office to help sga. Okay. Looking at Jokic and Aaron Gordon playing bully board against Holmgren, and Isaiah Hartenstein out rebounding them like 63 to 43, totally, you know, collectively as teams. And then on top of it all, Jokic dropping 42 and 22. Aaron Gordon hitting the game winning three point shot with 2.8 seconds. I've seen it. And Russell Westbrook, I can't say enough about this, brother. There's a lot to get into. And what better way to get into it than talking to my next guest? Okay, talking to my next guest. It's very, very important that you hear from him because he's gonna break it down for you in ways that, quite frankly, I can't. But I'm not gonna do that before I Pay these bills with Prize Picks. All right everybody, listen up. With all the big time sports action that's happening each and every day, the Stephen A. Smith show wants to make sure you are taking advantage of it all. That's why we've partnered with Prize Picks, the best place to win cash while watching sports. The app is really easy to use to make a lineup. All you have to do is pick more or less on a few player stats. Choose from any of your favorite players, Luka Doncic, Jimmy Butler, and Zach lavine all in the same entry. Then sit back and watch. The list is absolutely endless. You can play prize picks in over 40 states, including California and Texas. Best of all, Prizepix will give you $50 when you play your first $5 lineup. Win or lose, you'll get 50 bucks. Just use promo code SAS and download prize Picks right now. Again, download the app and use code SAs to get $50 instantly after your first $5 lineup.
- [05:22]
Talkspace Ad
Prize picks Run your game this podcast is sponsored by Talkspace. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and Talkspace, the leading virtual therapy provider, is telling everyone let's face it in therapy, by talking or texting with a supportive licensed therapist at Talkspace, you can face whatever is Whether it's mental health symptoms, relationship drama, past trauma, bad habits, or another challenge that you need support to work through, it's easy to sign up. Just go to talkspace.com and you'll be paired with a provider, typically within 48 hours. And because you'll meet your therapist online, you don't have to take time off work or arrange childcare. You'll meet on your schedule. Plus, Talkspace is in network with most major insurers and most insured members have a $0 copay. Make your mental health a priority and start today. If you're not covered by Insurance, get $80 off your first month with Talkspace when you go to talkspace.com and enter promo code SPACE80. That's S P A CE80 to match with a licensed therapist today, go to talkspace.com and Enter promo code SPACE80.
- [06:24]
Patina Miller
Yo K Pop fans, it's your boy Bom Han and I'm bringing you something epic. Introducing the K Factor, the podcast that takes you straight into the heart of K pop. We're talking music reviews, exclusive interview, deep dives into the industry like never before. From producers and choreographers to idols and trainees, we're bringing you the real stories behind the music that you love. And yeah, we're keeping it 100, discussing everything from comebacks and concepts to the mental health side of the business. Because K pop isn't just a genre, it's a whole world. And we're exploring every corner of it. And here's the best part. Fans get to call in, drop opinions, and even join us live at events. You never know where we might pop up next. So listen to the K factor on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This isn't just a podcast. It's a movement.
- [07:17]
Stephen A. Smith
Are you ready?
- [07:18]
Patina Miller
Let's go. Go.
- [07:28]
Jay Williams
Let's get started with the NBA playoffs and a two featured game last night that went down to the Wire. To help me get in all of that, I have a two time national Player of the Year at Duke, a national champion, by the way, who's an outstanding basketball analyst for the family at espn. The one and only Jay Williams is in the house. What's up, big time? How are you? By the way, I left out National Player of the Year. My bad, my bad. I left out national Player of the Year.
- [07:52]
Stephen A. Smith
Just don't skip the second pick behind the 76 Chinese man. That's all. You know what I mean? Just don't skip that that's, you know, just a little bit of respect in my name essay, that's all.
- [08:02]
Jay Williams
I got you, I got you. I got to give it to you yet. Listen, I've only called you the greatest play in the history of Duke's program. That's what I've said. I, I, I mean, I've said that on many, many occasions. Okay, but let me ask you this. You watched the New York Knicks handle their business last night. How shocked were you that that happened?
- [08:19]
Stephen A. Smith
First off, man, like, I, I've known Jalen Brunson since he's been five years old, since his dad, Rick Brunson took my Corvette, said he wanted to borrow it, and then took the damn thing essay for three and a half weeks. That's another story for another day on the YouTube channel that we get into. Okay? That's called being punked by your veteran. But Jalen was, he always wanted to hoop with us. It didn't matter if we were physical. And Rick always punished him, like, beat him up, you know what I mean? Like, made the game extremely physical. And in the game last night, I guess when it was close, it didn't really shock me that they were down 20, that they came back. I think what was more shocking is the fact Boston just settled, man, and watching them shoot 60 damn threes out of their 97 shots. And then watching Jason Tatum down the stretch, just settle and settle and settle. Essay, you and I have talked about this. After winning a world championship and then having multiple DMPs in USA basketball with Steve Kerr, like there's something for Jason Tatum to prove and for a guy that's been there multiple times and for a team that is full of veterans, for them to just settle for contested three. I was, I was angered by that. That, that doesn't sit right with me. And the fact they can't change up the style or the rhythm, like it makes me question even though I know they're a better team than the New York Knicks. So yeah, I was shocked that the Knicks won.
- [09:44]
Jay Williams
Well, what about the argument that even though they damn sure shot too many threes and we get that part, they're last in the league in free throw attempts. They're like third last in layups. This is what they do. And they're the ranking and defending NBA champions. So if something's not broke, why fix it? What about that argument?
- [10:03]
Stephen A. Smith
I mean, it's hard for me because that's data analytics. And data analytics prove that threes are always more conventional than twos and layups. So like the free throw aspect of it, fine. But if there's anything that kind of breaks that barrier Essay, it's the fact that they've won a world championship playing that similar style. Now you can post up, you can get twos, you can't get away from that completely. But they are a team that is a volume three point shooting team. So how about this? I'll reverse it on you because I know you're a Knicks fan. The fact that the Knicks won the game and it was a close game despite them missing 45 threes, like, how do you feel about that?
- [10:37]
Jay Williams
I don't feel comfortable because I think that it's almost automatic that Boston wins game two and that Boston is the best road team in basketball. So whatever you've been seeing from them at TD Bank Garden in Boston, it's going to be even better when they roll up at Madison Square Garden where you know it's going to be hyped because the series at in worst case scenario is going to be tied one one and Nick fans are going to be going crazy. And that seems to play right in in the hands of Boston.
- [11:04]
Stephen A. Smith
No Anthony Towns, I worry about him saying, I mean he didn't have a great game, but just the versatility of how Boston plays and how they bait him. How will he play? So look, I think Boston, Boston to me is the best team. I think in the Eastern Conference, okc, I think, is the best team in the league. Whether they prove it or not against Denver is another story. But I think it's going to take performances like that where New York has to keep it close. If they keep it close and then you got Captain Crunch and Jalen Brunson and crunch time, then you have a legitimate shot. If they don't keep it close, it ain't gonna be no contest.
- [11:41]
Jay Williams
Did a performance like that from Boston last night give you cause to pause as it pertains to not them winning this series because most people believe they're going to win this series, but did it give you cause to pause as to whether or not they'll repeat as champions? It's no.
- [11:57]
Stephen A. Smith
I, I, I, I, I hear the sentiment, like, in the back of my brain. I want it to make sense, but Damn essay. Over 80% of the shots they took were wide open. They were butt naked. I mean, right? So, I mean, like that, that's like knowing how they play. That game could have easily have been won by 40 points if they had knocked down half those shots. So, like, that's what they do now. I get it. They settled a little bit. They took contested shots, Jason Tatum. But I think, if anything, this team has resolved and they understand who they are. I highly doubt that they will have a performance as poor behind the arc as they did in game one in the entire rest of the playoff.
- [12:41]
Jay Williams
You sound, you sound more secure about them than you do about Oklahoma City. Because we saw them lose a game last night. We saw Chad Holgren missed two free throws at 9 1/2 seconds left. We saw Coach Dagnaut call for after Shea Gilgis Alexander made his dunk with 11 seconds left. We saw him call for a foul immediately, which both you and I were like, what the hell was that about? Why would you do that? Because all you did was give Gordon a couple of free throws. And then after that, you know, ultimately they come down and he hits a winning three. After Holmgren missed those free throws, you look at Oklahoma City and to me, what really got exposed is how they struggle offensively. On too many occasions, their defense is like, they're like piranhas. But offensively, I don't know if there's anyone you can rely upon outside of sga. What are your thoughts about okc?
- [13:31]
Stephen A. Smith
That's why I have more confidence in Boston, because they have more weapons offensively, and I've seen it before. I mean, can we just revisit something for one second? Stephen?
- [13:39]
Jay Williams
A like, sure.
- [13:42]
Stephen A. Smith
Why are we fouling in the backcourt? Like why aren't we taking four seconds off the damn shot clock to get the ball up the court and then foul with five seconds? I mean, you just have Nikola Jokic, the guy that's been essentially put check Homegren and Isaiah, you know, Hartenstein and Daycare Center. I mean he held a parent teacher conference. Damn it. Pretty much with the way he was, you know, giving them a paddle like they were altar boys. I mean, what's going on? I don't understand why, if he's not in the game after SGA makes that bucket, why foul immediately in the backcourt? I don't, I get data analytics extending the game, but why not wait for them to bring the ball up the court knowing that their best offensive weapon is sidelined and they have zero timeouts? Why are you giving them the benefit of stopping the clock so early in the clock? That was a rookie mistake. So when you, when you ask me why I have more confidence in Boston is because they've been through the gauntlet before, I think. I haven't seen KC get there. Doesn't mean that they can't. But I think those are the smaller types of things that happen that we see lack of scoring options, coaching strategies that maybe, oh, you're, there's a lot of rigidity, there's not a lot of flexibility. Those are the things that concern me about okc.
- [14:58]
Jay Williams
See, when you bring up coaching in Oklahoma City, I go to Sam Presti, revered as an elite executive in this game, a master at acquiring talent, whether through the draft or through trades, accumulating picks, etc. We all know this about him and this man. In 17 plus years as the executive running the Oklahoma City Thunder, I'd like to remind you, Jay, he doesn't have one single championship to show for it. He's going to the finals in 2012, but outside of that, that's it. And over the years he's had Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Sergio Baka, Reggie Jackson, Paul George, Carmelo Anthony, Victor Oladipo. He's had all of these players, but somehow, some way, he can never win the championship. And I would point to coaching. Billy Donovan's a good coach. One of national, back to back national titles as a coach in Florida. Scott Brooks was a damn good coach. Took him to the finals, had him as a perennial title contender in the playoffs. Diagnostics, nothing to sneeze at. I think the guy's very, very impressive. But when you ask the kind of question you asked about coaching Strategy, I'm saying I have no choice but to look at that historically about that franchise when it comes to Sam Presti, because we certainly never been able to look at their roster and say they didn't have enough to win. We've been able to look at their roster on many occasions since 2011 and said, you know what? They could win it all. And it never happens.
- [16:30]
Stephen A. Smith
Say some people in our world just have, I know, a larger margin of error than others. You know what I mean? You get what I'm saying? And the reality is, when you stockpile draft picks the way he did and it provides you a lot of flexibility and something falls in your lap like sga and now we're considering them to be at the top. I think now is when the pressure reaches its climax. Because now it's like, okay, now we need to see. We needed to see results before, but now it's time. You have a guy that's going to win the mvp, that's one of the best players in the league. We talk about Edwards or Jayson Tatum. You and I got into that a little bit the other day about the face of the league. I mean, look, look right before you and a guy like sga. So you are right. But I think it's reaching its peak right now because now this is what we need to see it reach the pinnacle now. Now it's time for them to win it.
- [17:25]
Jay Williams
By the way, I appreciate you bringing that up because you were making the argument that Jason Tatum was the face of the league. And I'm like, last night, I mean, piggybacking off of last night at the greatest moment to bring that. Any breaking moment. Jake ain't the greatest moment to bring that up. Even though I believe in the brother. I do, I do. Listen, before I even move on from this, how can we talk about last night's game and not bring up Nicola Jokic 42 and 22 and 6? And I mean, on the court with the guy that's expected to beat him out for league MVP honors, Rashe Gilders Alexander, who finished with 33 and 10, no slouch, but Yogic is something special, man. He. He really is. I don't know what to say. I don't know what else. He can't jump onto a curb to save his life and nobody can stop him. And considering that and the way Russell.
- [18:16]
Stephen A. Smith
Westbrook is playing, you're giving him the benefit of the doubt. Jumping onto the curb. I'm talking about he can't jump over an eyelash.
- [18:22]
Jay Williams
That's Right. And. And you can't stop him. And him and Gordon played bully ball. And I'm looking at them and I'm like, they. They might go to the conference finals. Your thoughts about Denver?
- [18:32]
Stephen A. Smith
I mean, obviously, when you lose some of the pieces that they had defensively, it led to a lot of question marks. But I've said it before. SGA is going to win the mvp. He the best player in basketball. Best player in basketball. It's unorthodox. It ain't the sexiness that people want that come along with it, but he can dislodge anybody off of their spot. I mean, Zubot did the best. The best individual performance we've seen against him was in the last series versus the Clippers. And it was at least somebody that held their ground. I mean, ain't too many people in the world built the way Zubak is in order. Zubak says in order to hold their ground against him. And the way they kept digging down into the spots, and he never really caught the ball in the operational area where he was comfortable.
- [19:18]
Jay Williams
Right.
- [19:18]
Stephen A. Smith
But watching him last night, man, it was like a backyard beat. And he did whatever he wanted. And look, man, we got to do 44 and 22. God damn. That's. It's gonna be hard to stop that. And I don't see nobody on their team stopping that.
- [19:33]
Jay Williams
Neither do I. Let's move on to a couple other series. Minnesota, Golden State. I got Minnesota in six, bro. I think they're too big. I think Ant man is too great. I think that they. They're too good defensively. They have too much size. I can't imagine. The only way they could. The only way Golden State can beat him is Golden State shooting the lights out and Minnesota can't find a basket. Your thoughts about that series, Big Brother?
- [19:59]
Stephen A. Smith
When we're on tv, can you not use the word girth? Because you have to understand, I am a child. And I'm just going to start laughing because I wanted to pause you the other day so bad, but I couldn't do it. I'm a child.
- [20:10]
Jay Williams
My bad. My bad.
- [20:11]
Stephen A. Smith
I know. Anyway, I. I'm gonna take Golden State. I'm gonna take Golden State.
- [20:18]
Jay Williams
Really? How they gonna do it, Jay? How they gonna do it?
- [20:22]
Stephen A. Smith
I don't think the sides. You keep talking about sides, but if I have spacing and shooting, that negates sides, because now the sides got to guard me on the perimeter. I think Minnesota is going to be forced to play smaller than what we think. You know, if Rudy Gobert Wants a guard, Draymond Green or Looney, and he's picking pop scenarios, then good luck to him. Good luck to him. Skating around on the perimeter, trying to chase around all the shooters of Buddy Hill then. I mean, I give Steve Kerr a lot of credit. Now whether, you know, GTP was sick or had issues like playing Buddy Hill a lot, that's floor space and that helps him tremendously. So, yeah, I hear the thing about size and also I'm gonna give you another one essay because I want to hear what your thoughts are on Edwards at the beginning of the year said he wanted to play Golden State, obviously because of USA Basketball. Draymond Green, the trash talking, all the stuff that happens, right? He didn't know he was gonna get Jimmy Butler. So I'm over here saying, okay, I love you, Ant Man, Superman, Batman, Lakers and 5. I love all that. I love walking around the arena after beating the Lakers and talking trash, talking to everybody. I'm all for that. You about to get a grown ass man now, somebody that's an older version of you, his name is Jimmy Butler. So that's a matchup you're gonna have to take. I don't think he's gonna be on Steph Curry. I think he has to take Jimmy Butler. I know Jimmy Butler's gonna have his ass. So I want to see how Ant does it against him. That's different. I love Brian, I love Luca, I love kd, I love Devin Booker, Jamal Murray. You talking about all offensive minded dudes. Jimmy Butler's that dude in the trenches. I called him a technician.
- [22:06]
Jay Williams
Number one, he's not 100. He's not 100 healthy. And number two, that's a relatively easy answer for me. Jimmy Butler's great, mad respect to him, but I'd rather guard Jimmy Butler than be chasing around Steph Curry. I don't want to be chasing Steph Curry all over the damn place. We saw what Kyrie Irvin did to Ant man last year. You understand when you going up against the smaller guards that could sniper you out of there from long range, that can dance on you or whatever, that's problematic. That's not Jimmy. Jimmy's a man amongst boys. Jimmy's physical, but he's a different kind of beast. And I think the kind of beast Ant man is, would more easily embrace than. Than the alternative. That's my answer to that question, Jay.
- [22:54]
Stephen A. Smith
And I tell you why. I hope you are right. Because if I'm Jimmy, okay, I want to be in your head the whole damn game. Please Guard me. I'm talking to you. We are exchanging. This is intellectual warfare. If you're built for it, let's see if you're really built for it. Like and. And that kind of exchange on a game to game 247 basis is exactly the type of mental chess match. I want to see if ant can withstand. I want to see it.
- [23:24]
Jay Williams
Let me move on from this subject to something close a bit, a bit closer, more dear to you. You ant man and Minnesota are going against Golden State because they bounced the Lakers out of there in five. What did you think about the job JJ Redick did coaching the Los Angeles Lakers this season and these playoffs? And how surprised were you that they ended up home in 5?
- [23:50]
Stephen A. Smith
Wasn't as surprised that they ended up home in 5. I thought game 4 could have went a different way down the stretch. If the ball bounces a different way. The calculated bet of playing his starters, the third and fourth quarter is an unorthodox one. But if they had lost by 10 or 15, I would. Okay, what are you doing? It was, and I hear what people say, Essay about how that then translates into game five. Okay, how do I say this the correct way? I'm just going to say it. He lost that. I don't know what happened with Jackson Hayes. I don't know how you just lose confidence.
- [24:33]
Jay Williams
Right.
- [24:33]
Stephen A. Smith
To that extent in Jackson Hayes, especially when you're getting beat up on the blocks. When you give up 18 offensive damn rebounds. Right. You need size in there. But there was something that JJ, I do trust JJ's intuition. There is a learning curve that I think JJ will have in this league. I do often wonder though, and essay, you and I know him very well when you. When he engages in battle and he sees red, sometimes that genius gets combated a little bit with the competitive fire where this is what it has to be. And I think that's something that we still need to see him be fine tuned with. We've seen him lose his cool a little bit. You see, you've seen it. You've seen it. When you've exchanged with him a little bit, it gets heated, then it kind of becomes personal. He loses the strategy aspect of it. I'm wondering if that happened a little bit throughout this aspect. You know what I mean?
- [25:25]
Jay Williams
Yeah. What do you think he can do with Luka and what role do you think LeBron should play, if any at all, in helping Luca maximize his potential now that you are stuck with him being a Los Angeles Laker, essentially?
- [25:40]
Stephen A. Smith
I mean, I think what JJ did Calling them out, saying we weren't in championship shape. I mean, who the hell is that referring to? But one person. Yeah. Nobody else in that team is out of shape like that. So, look, if. If you. I said this before. You know, accountability is not hate. It's the price of the damn throne. And, you know, I. Obviously, Steph has made improvements on the defensive end. He put on weight. He's worked on it. He is a marginal defender. He's a serviceable defender. Luca is not. So that's number one. And I think number two, LeBron knows what it is. I mean, at this stage, you may. Your team made the move, and he had to know. Essay he had.
- [26:25]
Jay Williams
Right.
- [26:26]
Stephen A. Smith
Somebody had to call LeBron James on the phone and say, yo, like, he's earned that respect. There's no way they made that move without him. Now he can say whatever he wants to say. You know, it's. It's braun. I respect that. But ain't nobody making no move on your show without calling you. I know that for a fact. Ain't nobody making a move in my company without calling me. I know that for a fact. So if that's happening, if you gave it the blessing, it's your job to say, yo, it's time. It's time for you to get this to the next gear. And he has to be that big bro. That's the only way.
- [26:59]
Jay Williams
And he has to. And he has to be that big bro. As far as I'm concerned, you're on the basketball court. If Cats ain't maximizing their potential, they holding you back. Just like you just brought me up and what have you. You coming on the show, you ain't doing your damn job. You ain't gonna be there. I don't give a damn who you are. Like, what we got. We trying to win. We trying to win. We can't just sit oddly by and let anything happen. But, look, before I let you get on out of here, you talked about your company. Let's talk about that for a quick second. What is Jay Williams doing with his life outside of espn? My brother, what's been going on with you?
- [27:29]
Stephen A. Smith
Man, I'm just trying to bring added value to espn. I'm just following your footsteps. I'm just following your footsteps, man.
- [27:35]
Jay Williams
I.
- [27:36]
Stephen A. Smith
You know, I happen to work with a dude who was in New York the other day. I'll leave that one to you and say, okay, I don't know what's gonna happen to your Knicks, but I'll leave that one to you. We'll See what happens.
- [27:47]
Jay Williams
Okay.
- [27:48]
Stephen A. Smith
And I'm just, you know, I'm just being a little brother. I'm just trying to find my way. Hopefully I have my own show like you one day. That's the plan.
- [27:54]
Jay Williams
Do a lot of things, man. Shoot, man, I know this much. Anytime anybody wants to talk about a show on business, they should have you anyway. The world of sports and business intertwined because sports is business, really. They should be talking to you. Bloomberg should be talking. A whole bunch of people should be talking to you. Actually, that's my personal opinion. But we'll talk about that. We'll talk about that in the future because I got some ideas that I want to throw your way.
- [28:19]
Stephen A. Smith
You already know what time of that is with you, because I know what you're doing. So we're on the same page. And by the way, the show's. Show's looking. Sorry. The show's really good. It's looking really good.
- [28:29]
Jay Williams
I'm trying. I'm trying. Is it. I'm gonna take it to another level. Watch the next few months. I got some stuff down the pike. Trust me on that. We didn't talk about how Tyrese Halliburton in this regard. We know that he's leading everybody in assist at 11.8 this postseason. We know that Indiana is up 10 on Cleveland, and Cleveland's got some injuries they sustained in game one, plus Darius Garland didn't play. But I never talked to you about your thoughts about Tyrese Halliburton's father and how he got into it with Giannis and what you thought the fallout should have been for the father of Tyrese Halliburton. By the way, I can't applaud Tyrese Halliburton enough. It takes a lot for a kid to come out and say, my dad was wrong. I. I don't know if anybody. I mean, I always respected Tyrese Halliburton, but your respect has to elevate exponentially for a guy that's willing to do that. I mean, it really is, but it was the right thing, in my opinion. What were your thoughts?
- [29:25]
Stephen A. Smith
I 100% agree with you on that. I think he handled it beautifully and respectfully. And I knew that he called ga. He called Giannis and apologized, and I think that takes a. I think that takes a grown ass man to do something like that. And as you know, sa. Because we come from those type of communities that, you know, when you get drafted, you don't get drafted. We made it. We made it. And your parents become fixtures in what you do, and a lot of times it's hard to tell the authority figure in your family what time it needs to be. But that's Tyrese Halliburton stepping into his grown ass man shoes. I'm proud of him for that. I, I was honest. Yo, thank God Giannis has composure. Because if that were somebody like me or essay, if we want to, if you're on set and somebody just comes and runs on the set, we might exchange. I don't know who the hell you are. We might exchange. Hands up in my face with the towel. So I give him grace on how he handled it, but, I mean, I also think that Indiana handled it well. I think that ban is what you need to do. It's unfortunate that's your star player, but I'm sure that they talked to Reese about what they were thinking about doing and he had to co sign it. So for me, when your star player co signs something, because his father put himself in that situation, to me, that lets me know that my star player is aligned with my franchise. And that alignment speaks volumes about where I want the future of my franchise to be. I want it to be in his hands because he respects what we're trying to build.
- [31:01]
Jay Williams
Absolutely no question about it. Last question. Knicks, Boston series. How long is it going?
- [31:08]
Stephen A. Smith
I don't think, I don't think New York's going to get another one. I'm going to be there Saturday. You going to the game on Saturday?
- [31:14]
Jay Williams
I'll be in LA doing countdown.
- [31:17]
Stephen A. Smith
I'll be there.
- [31:18]
Jay Williams
You knew that. You're just bringing that up to hurt me. You're just bringing it up to hurt me. You know, I couldn't be there because I had to be in la.
- [31:23]
Stephen A. Smith
You know, I just thought you were going to be there. I thought you're going to be, you know, boots on the court. I, I, if they get, if they get one more essay, I would be shocked. I, I'm, to me, the headline was Boston gave that one away. They gave it away. And I, I'm, I'm commending New York.
- [31:41]
Jay Williams
So you got Boston at 5.
- [31:42]
Stephen A. Smith
I got Boston.
- [31:43]
Jay Williams
You got Boston 5.
- [31:44]
Stephen A. Smith
I think this one wakes him up. I know. I, I think this one lights a fire under their ass. I know it did for Joe Missoula.
- [31:54]
Jay Williams
Golden State. Minnesota. How long they got?
- [31:57]
Stephen A. Smith
Golden State in seven.
- [32:00]
Jay Williams
Seven. Back in Minnesota on the road. Minnesota, second consecutive series. You got the win in it.
- [32:07]
Stephen A. Smith
Seven.
- [32:08]
Jay Williams
Seven.
- [32:09]
Stephen A. Smith
Come on, man. Give me, give me a Tom Ford suit.
- [32:11]
Jay Williams
Come on.
- [32:12]
Stephen A. Smith
We can put a tom for a suit. Online.
- [32:13]
Jay Williams
Okay, we could do. We, we, we. We might be able to do that. Let me ask you this, is KD gonna be in Houston next year?
- [32:21]
Stephen A. Smith
Ronnie, I don't want nobody calling me a liar again. I say, come on, man, take me down that road with him.
- [32:28]
Jay Williams
Yes.
- [32:29]
Stephen A. Smith
Is he gonna be at Houston next year? If you're Houston, do you want Kevin Durant? I'm asking, okay.
- [32:37]
Jay Williams
Should Houston. Should Houston or Detroit want them?
- [32:40]
Stephen A. Smith
If I'm Detroit, I like that. I like it for Detroit. If I'm Houston, do I go for Giannis? I'm all in for Giannis before I'm all in for Kevin Durant.
- [32:56]
Jay Williams
If I'm anybody, I'm all in for Giannis more than I'm all in for Kevin Durant at this stage of their careers. All if he's. If I'm anybody with, with the age.
- [33:04]
Stephen A. Smith
And with the pieces I got that can play around him. Priority one, Giannis. And I actually think if you're Houston, I don't know if I want.
- [33:13]
Jay Williams
As.
- [33:14]
Stephen A. Smith
As great as KD is with the ailments that he's had, I'm not sure at that stage of his career that I want that on my team. And that's not anything to knock Kevin Durant and his leadership abilities and how he plays, because he is a certified bucket getter. But I'm not sure that's what Houston needs at this time with what they have.
- [33:35]
Jay Williams
Jay Williams, appreciate you, big boy. Thanks so much for taking time out of your busy schedule, man. Thank you so much. I really need to talk to you. Appreciate it, man.
- [33:42]
Stephen A. Smith
Always, big brother. Thanks, man.
- [33:43]
Jay Williams
All right, one and only Jay Williams, basketball analyst extraordinaire for the family. Always appreciate him. Right here on the Stephen A. Smith show with the Digital Airways of YouTube and of course, I Heart Radio coming up. She's a Tony and Grammy award winning actress, actress with range, who plays the ruthless mother in Power Book 3, Raising Canaan. I've got Patina Miller in studio straight ahead. But first, President Trump promised sweeping deportations across the country last fall on the campaign trail. Now his new administration is offering $1,000 and a plane ticket for self deportation. What happened? I'll get into all that next right here on the Stephen A. Smith Show. Welcome back to Stephen A. Smith Show. Let's get to our nation's capital where the Department of Homeland Security is now offering $1,000 in a plane ticket to unauthorized immigrants to self deport. The announcement comes as deportations nationwide have become stagnant during President Trump's first 100 days in office. Mass deportations were a key campaign promise that Trump said he would start as soon as he took office. However, it appears the administration did not take into account the cost of that promise. According to the Department of Homeland Security, a single deportation cost U.S. taxpayers more than $17,000. The federal agency expects self deportations to decrease that cost by 70% even after factoring in the $1,000 stipend. Now look, how the hell do you not take the cost into consideration? How did you not know that it cost you about $17,000 per migrant to the taxpayer in the United States of America when you talked about engaging in deportation? So if you're talking about originally, if you wanted to sit up there and say 12 million people cross the border illegally and that a lot of them have to go, let's round that out, let's round that out to 10 million. And let's say your goal was to deport 10 million migrants back to wherever they came from. Now, that wouldn't be that big of a deal because I mean, after all, when your national deficit is $37 trillion, I mean, what's 1.7 billion? Except you made so much noise about it when it came to Doge and Elon Musk and you were bragging about the hundreds of millions of dollars that is being saved by identifying fraud and waste. But we didn't take that into consideration. Now you see, ladies and gentlemen, here's where it's time to get a little bit nervous. Because when you're willing to admit as a government that you didn't know about that cost, that, that, that, that, that, that, that's a bit alarming when you take into account some of the other problems we have, like with the airlines. Because you see, I fly out of Newark all the time and I'm reading all of these stories about air traffic controllers. 20% of its workforce has departed. When you're wondering about overflowing traffic and four hour delays on average, and you want, and talk about runways that are overloaded and stuff like that, it's making me a bit nervous because once again, even though I'm a centrist, these are the moments where I lean a little left, where government intervention is something I would prefer, as opposed to us trying to privatize everything or trying to act like we don't need government at all, we don't need to go that far because clearly we need them for some things. We may not need them to be excessive, but we don't need them to be absent and non existent. And if you got that kind of problem. What kind of problem we gonna have with healthcare? Because it is a voucher system that's about to be in place courtesy of Governor Abbott in Texas, likely Governor DeSantis in Florida, along with various others. We don't need the Department of Education. We need. We need private schools. We don't need public schools. Well, hell, why not both? I'm just saying these are the kind of things to get nervous about. There was a helicopter that collided with a plane near Reagan national in D.C. months ago that killed about a few people. I reg. I don't recall the specific number at this moment in time. I apologize for not having that story right in front of me. I'm just paying attention to these kind of things is making me nervous. All I'm saying is it's making me nervous. You know what? Damn the issue with Harvard when we got these kind of things to worry about. I'm not taking the side of the Trump administration specifically, even though Harvard does have a $53 billion endowment. So you're kind of wondering, why do they need government funds? But that's neither here nor there. I need to do more research about that before I take a position definitively in that regard. All I'm saying is that pales in comparison to air traffic. To air traffic issues. That pales in comparison to that kind of stuff. And when we get back to the migrants and folks paying folks to deport themselves, well, if it's $17,000 per person, how the hell did you come up with 1000 as a stipend? Couldn't you come up with 5 to 10? How many people are going to turn themselves in for $1,000 and a free airline ticket? And then he had the audacity to say, and they're going to be a beautiful flight home. Well, how's it beautiful? First of all, you're going back to a place you don't want to go back to. And how the hell are you speaking for the airlines now? When's the last time you've been on one of these airlines to tell whether or not they're beautiful? I'm just asking. These are logical questions. It's gonna be a beautiful flight home. And a thousand dollars. Really? Really. Come on, y'all. Something to be alarmed about. That's all I'm saying. Hell, I'm scared to fly home. I'm thinking about driving from California, kind of. I've been reading. I might drive home. It's three days. It's a three day trip. I might do it rather than getting A damn plane of damn reports I've been reading. Just a thought. I'm just saying. Coming up, she's fearless, powerful, and should never be cross Lost. I'm talking about Patina Miller, star of the hit series Raising Canaan. She's joining me next right here on the Stephen A. Smith Show. Don't go away.
- [41:06]
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- [42:06]
Patina Miller
Yo, K Pop fans. It's your boy, Bom Han, and I'm bringing you something epic.
- [42:10]
Talkspace Ad
Epic.
- [42:10]
Patina Miller
Introducing the K Factor, the podcast that takes you straight into the heart of K pop. We're talking music reviews, exclusive interview, deep dives into the industry like never before. From producers and choreographers to idols and trainees, we're bringing you the real stories behind the music that you love. And, yeah, we're keeping it 100, discussing everything from comebacks and concepts to the mental health side of the business. Because K pop isn't just a genre. It's a whole world. And we're exploring every corner of it. And here's the best part. Fans get to call in, drop opinions, and even join us live at events. You never know where we might pop up next. So listen to the K factor on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. This isn't just a podcast. It's a movement.
- [42:59]
Stephen A. Smith
Are you ready?
- [43:00]
Patina Miller
Let's go.
- [43:00]
Jay Williams
Let's go. Welcome back to Stephen A. Smith show. You know, it's very, very rare that I ask to talk to anybody. No, I literally come on the air every day ready to do my show by my damn self. But every now and then you run across somebody that just moves you. They're just a star in their own right in words that you can't describe, especially when it's outside your industry. This woman that I had the pleasure of interviewing, I taped an interview with her in studio face to face a few days ago and I personally requested it because I think she is a sensational actress. She truly, truly is. She stars on one of my favorite shows on Stars itself. Raisin Canaan Power book goes three Raisin Canaan. She's fabulous. You understand what I'm saying? Rock is no joke, you know, and she just. Yes, she's won a Tony. Yes, she's won awards. Yes, she. The believability of her character, how she portrays herself in that role, how she changes, how she speaks normally to going into character and to do what she does the way that she does it. Depicting, you know, that time in the streets of New York City the way that she does. I would know because I grew up in the streets of New York in the 80s. I can't say enough about her. Her name is Patina Miller. You're going to be hearing a lot more about her in the future because she is simply sensational. And it is my honor and privilege to share this conversation that I had with her with the rest of y'all because she's worth it. Stephen A. With Bettina Miller face to face in studio. Check it out. My next guest is a Tony award winning actress of stage and screen. She stars on the long running Starz hit crime drama series Power Book 3, Raising Canaan which has been renewed for a fifth season from what I'm told. Please welcome the marvelous Ms. Patina Miller. How are you? How's everything?
- [45:34]
Patina Miller
I'm good. Everything is good.
- [45:35]
Jay Williams
This is a personal request. This is a personal request. I mean you are here because I reached out to Martina. I said, look, get her on this show. I want to talk to her. I mean, I'm usually not interviewing a bunch of actresses or what have you, but you are special. I want you to know that. I find you to be one of the most marvelous actresses I have ever witnessed in my life. It is an honor to see you. How you doing?
- [45:55]
Patina Miller
I am so good. I'm even better now. Thank you so much. I appreciate it.
- [45:59]
Jay Williams
This, I mean, raising Cane is, I mean it's flowing, it's got. It's really, really good. I'm one of Those original power guys. I never believed that I would like this show as much as I did.
- [46:10]
Patina Miller
But, well, we've done our job.
- [46:12]
Jay Williams
It's you. Why is it so successful, Yonz?
- [46:15]
Patina Miller
I mean, I think what I think it is, it takes the formula from the original Power. I think they're really interesting characters. They're three dimensional characters. The stakes are very high. I mean, I think, you know, we all know Kanan's story, and so it was really interesting for the audiences to come and take a look at our show where you get to start at the beginning. You know, you realize the different influences in Kanan's life with how he turns out. And at the helm of that is this really amazing dynamic, amazing crazy woman.
- [46:43]
Jay Williams
Now, this, the scenery, what is this supposed to be? Is this supposed to be Queens, New York? Like, is it supposed to be south side? Is this supposed to be north?
- [46:51]
Patina Miller
It's supposed to be south side, Queens.
- [46:53]
Jay Williams
You know, you talking to a boy from Hollis, Queens?
- [46:55]
Stephen A. Smith
Yeah.
- [46:56]
Patina Miller
Okay. Okay, then. So what you think?
- [46:58]
Jay Williams
I like it a lot. Okay, then. Because I'm like, wait a minute here. This is exactly how it looks.
- [47:03]
Patina Miller
Oh, yo, yo. Oh, yeah. We have a great team. I mean, I think everybody's done their not. I think I know that everybody's done the work. So the acting, for me personally is incredible. But also our creative team, everyone who works on her show really gives 120%. And we wanted to make the show as authentic and real as we possibly could. So, you know, we do shoot in south side, Jamaica. We did. You know, we've sat. We shot in, like, these big destinations, and we've used New York as our playground to tell this story. And I think people are attracted to the show because it is kind of like this time capsule. It's like going back in time, and it feels just so raw and authentic and really honest to the to the time.
- [47:44]
Jay Williams
We were talking a lot about. Anytime you see a show like this, you think about a kingpin, and a kingpin. It's a queen, baby.
- [47:49]
Patina Miller
It's a kingpin.
- [47:49]
Jay Williams
It's a queen pin. It's you. What drew you to this role?
- [47:53]
Patina Miller
You know, I think so. For me, I'm always trying to investigate the truth of a character. What made the character really stand out for me or what wanted me, mystified me about. The character is a woman of Raquel's nature. Being in this man's world, being a mother and being at the top of this criminal enterprise, what makes a person want to do the job that she's doing? How did the person get there? They don't get there just because they want to. They get there because it's the survival. And so how has this woman come to this great, you know, holding the power that she has? And I was interested in that and being a queenpin. For me, you know, that's. That's kind of boring. But I wanted to make her interesting. I wanted her to be very interesting. I didn't want to just be menacing.
- [48:43]
Jay Williams
And how do you believe you, Raquel? Interesting?
- [48:48]
Patina Miller
Oh, I've definitely. Well, what I wanted.
- [48:50]
Jay Williams
So that's how you've done it. What do you do?
- [48:52]
Patina Miller
You know, I mean, it was just her swagger, the way that she holds herself. I think all of Raquel's choices of what she thinks about power, just how much of a lioness she is about her son and to the people in her family. I think Raquel is very much family oriented. She's, you know, she loves her family. She's the matriarch of her family. So she's holding it down. Um, I know so many women and who hold it down all the time, you know, not because sometimes they want to, but because they have to. And it's the responsibility. And, you know, she wants legacy, and this is her way of creating some legacy. It's what she's good at. She's good with numbers. If she could be in somebody's office, maybe she would be in office if she had that opportunity. But she wasn't afforded that opportunity. So she's someone who's making her way and getting what's hers.
- [49:41]
Jay Williams
Well, let me tell you something right now. I'm gonna. I'm gonna. You know, listen, I'm not telling anybody. Cause I know they all, so. But let me tell you something right now. One of my favorite scenes. I know you might not like this, but I like when you killed that girl that betrayed you. I like the girl in the laundromat. You helped her out when her man was beaten up and all of this stuff. And she got big and bad. And you was like, course, correct. I mean, you gotta make your. Oh, I loved it. It was a beautiful scene. It was marvelous. Your relationship with the Kanan character in the show, how do you feel about that and how much do you believe that's drawn in view?
- [50:16]
Patina Miller
I think, you know, I love. First off, I think Makai Curtis is a wonderful human being. He is a beautiful actor. And him and I have just had the opportunity to have so much fun on screen and off getting to know one another, really getting to go into what this mother son relationship is. Cause it's a deep relationship. And I think a lot of people can identify with that kind of relationship. You know, it's not so simple. It's not a very simple relationship. And, you know, it turns, and it's always changing. And, you know, in the beginning, it was Kanan doing something because he wanted to protect his mother. Then in turn, his mother making a lot of crazy choices to protect her son. So they've both been trying to protect each other in a way. And then you find out all of there's lies and there's betrayals, and so it's. How do you continue to. How do these things manifest, right? Like a lie, a secret, and all these things, and how much later, what damage is done, you know, even if you're doing it out of something that you think is necessary to protect him in the long run. But they're mother and son, and they're always fighting for the love that they have, even though it looks like it's not. They're always fighting for each other.
- [51:30]
Jay Williams
I have found myself captivated by that storyline from this perspective, especially when it comes to young black men, there are very, very few things that can be done to alienate them from their mamas, right? They love their mamas, right? Whereas with this. Whereas with this story, even though it's clear that he loves you, he ain't gonna let nobody else mess with you but him himself. He gives you nothing but trouble. I mean, every time you turn around, he's mouthing off at you, he's hitting you back verbally, et cetera, et cetera. I wanna know that as you continue to allow this role to evolve, what your thoughts are about that imagery. Because we usually think young black men and mamas and they're linked, that's not necessarily the case in terms, from an ambiance perspective with you two on the show.
- [52:18]
Patina Miller
You know, I think at the end of the day, it really is. They do have a bond, right? And that bond will continue to be tested. And right now, within the trajectory of the show, you've watched from seasons one through three and you're now watching in four, you're watching them navigate a new relationship. You know, now Kanan has to have someone to blame for all of these things. And so you always. You always blame the one the closest to you, right? For all of these things. And so Raquel is strong enough to take it. She is. You know, she's his. She has to be the mother and the father in this situation. And you Know, she doesn't like it. She doesn't like that her son blames her for everything. All she wants is acceptance and love from him after all of these crazy things. And so that relationship will continue to change.
- [53:07]
Jay Williams
How much of a push was it for you to be that person as a mom on this show, raising Canaan, and then to go to the scene when you're with your brother who's got the alcohol issue and was talking and contemplating suicide and all this other stuff, and he's in there, he's in the meetings and he's talking about, you know, what you mean to him and what have you and how he didn't feel like you cared and all of this other stuff. What was that moment like for you?
- [53:33]
Patina Miller
Well, I think for me, I always try to tack my work with humanity. I always like to tack my work with truth and honesty. And so there has to be a way in to all of these different situations. And for me personally, you know, I know what it's like to be the child of a young mother. So I know what that is. And I being raised by my mom, you know, her growing and me growing myself, and then also having a sibling, my brother, rest in peace to my brother, who passed away recently. But my brother had issues. My brother had some demons. And so I know what that's like to want something for a family member. Want something. Want so much to, like, change or want so much for them to be better. And, you know, so taking all of my experiences that I've had in my life that, you know, I'm not a queen pen or anything, but I take all my experiences and I try to get to the truth and the honesty of what the character's trying to say. And so what Raquel is really trying to say to Lou in that moment, first off, it's see me as your sister. I don't need this right now. My world has just come down. I've been played by everyone around me. I'm having a terrible moment. Ease off me. You know, the second is, when are you going to realize you need me for everything? Right? Like, that's really it. She has to tell. She has to be honest with people. And I think it's the best thing that she possibly could do is to people will say that she's not honest. And yes, she made a very bad decision with Canaan and his father, but with her brother, it's just, you know, you don't get to get out of this life because you want to get out of this life. We are in this. And we were supposed to be in this together. And you need me for everything. And if you want to run a business, run the business, but don't keep coming back to me. And so Raquel has had to be this way. In a way, she's parenting her brother, you know, Lou, and then to see how that affected him and to see how he turned to all these things, then she has to look inward and see and say, like, you know, maybe that wasn't the right way to do it, or maybe Lou is right about some of the things that he said. And so they've really had some come to Jesus moments with each other. But that's what you do when you're family, right? You fight like that and. But we love each other. At the end of the day, it's all rooted in love. But family should be able to have difficult conversations with each other. And at the end of the day, it's rooted in love. So that's how I feel.
- [56:06]
Jay Williams
Tell the audience about Patina Miller. What is it that we don't know that you would like people to know about you other than the fact that you are, I'm gonna repeat this, a sensational actress.
- [56:22]
Patina Miller
Oh, thank you very much. Thank you. I don't know. You know, I'm a little private. I don't really love people knowing too much about me like that.
- [56:29]
Jay Williams
That's why I asked a general question.
- [56:31]
Patina Miller
But you know, what I do? I love to put myself in my work. And so what I would want people to know about me, that I am a very sincere person. I am a very loving person. I give my heart and soul in everything that I do. You know, I'm a person who has passion for the things that I want, and I put my heart and soul to everything that I do. And maybe that's what it is, is that, you know, let me ask you this.
- [57:04]
Jay Williams
You starred in the Broadway revival of the musical Pippin?
- [57:06]
Patina Miller
I did, yeah.
- [57:07]
Jay Williams
For which you won the Tony Award for best performance by an actress in a leading role in a musical at the 67th annual Tony Awards. The show also won best revival of a musical. The great Mr. Ben Vereen himself originated the role. Did you have any apprehension about stepping into that role?
- [57:23]
Patina Miller
Yes, 100%. I mean, it's legendary. Ben Vereen is an icon of the stage, and what he did with Pippen and who he is as a performer and what that show was, stepping into a role like that, I was unsure of how it was gonna be taken. You know, first off, a woman playing the part, you Know, how am I gonna mess it up? So there was a lot of this, okay, people are gonna come judging me. What is it gonna be? And then I said, you know what? I'm gonna just put my own flavor on it. I'm gonna do my own thing, and I'm gonna be Patina and bring what patina brings to it. And luckily, that was very successful. And I have something to remind me of that moment in my life.
- [58:06]
Jay Williams
And I'm wondering, what do you believe that did for you? Because obviously, there was some apprehension, some hesitation, but you did it anyway, and you were highly successful at doing it. How does that one. How does that elevate one's confidence, particularly somebody like yourself, when you embrace a challenge and you exceed beyond expectations?
- [58:24]
Patina Miller
You know, I think it's trusting your gut. I think it's okay to be nervous, and it's okay to be scared. Like, I always love to do things that scare me. I don't want to do easy things.
- [58:32]
Jay Williams
Wow.
- [58:33]
Patina Miller
Nothing that's easy, you know, like, it's more to me than getting a script reading my lines. What excites me is really breaking down a script, you know, really getting deep into a character and figuring out who this person is, figuring out how I can make the audience at home, you know, make it so that they see something within themselves or someone that they know through a character. How can I make what my work what my work is? How can I make it land for people who might be going through something, right? Like, to see yourself in something? That's what I would want as a viewer. And for me, like I say, it's not just picking up a script, but it's, how can I go to as far as I can go? And I had someone tell me early in my career, don't be afraid to jump off the cliff. And so that basically is just about not being afraid to get to the edge. See that? Like, it's scary and, like, who knows what's. You know, what's gonna happen if you fall? But it's just the freedom of getting out there and doing it.
- [59:34]
Jay Williams
But do you go through that once you accept the role, or do you look at it and see if there's a possibility it can make you feel that way? Both reading. Reading the script. Both for you accept the role.
- [59:46]
Patina Miller
I think it's both. I think it's both. You have to see there has to be some sort of a vision of, like, oh, my God, what could I do with this? And so, for me, the leading player in Pippin was that way Picking up the script to read Raising Canaan and reading who Raquel Was and reading the show, I was like, oh, my God. You know, I got excited. So there's the excitement period first, and then there's the, oh, shit, okay, well, how do I make this as alive and as good as it possibly can? How can I make this something that people don't want to take their eyes off of? How can I make this as good as I possibly can? And that's scary.
- [60:22]
Jay Williams
What gives you the best shot at pulling that off stage? Film. Television.
- [60:28]
Patina Miller
It's my stage work. I will always credit my stage worth with my ability to have a camera in front of my face and act and emote and, you know, go up and down in all these different emotions and act with people in front of a camera. Being on a stage is very different. You know, it's an intimate house. What you see in a. What you see on stage. When you come to see a show, you and everyone else in there are the only ones who will ever know what that performance was. So there's something really sacred and real about theater, which is new every night. And so what makes that alive and what makes it work for me, my TV work, is. I get. I know what. The feeling of being able to try new things. Right. Because it's new every single night.
- [61:14]
Stephen A. Smith
Yeah.
- [61:14]
Patina Miller
The words are the same. The actors are. Sometimes the actors are not the same, which is a great thing, too. But you're getting feedback from an audience and you're in the room with them. And so it makes your listening. It makes you really kind of hold yourself in a way. You're really listening. Something might happen, but it's how you keep going. So your instincts. It makes you sharp. It makes you listen. It makes you want to try things. So when you get on a set, you know, you've been there for 16 hours and you're playing with everyone, and we have all these setups. You're trying something new all of the time. And you can try and get to the truth. In my opinion, what I love about the work is that it's easier for me to get to the truth of what I'm trying to say with these characters. And does that make sense?
- [61:59]
Jay Williams
Listen, I'm listening every word you say. Characters, I want to ask you. I mean, when you talk about memorizing or remembering your lines, is that a gift? Is it something that you develop along the way? Or is it something that you have to be just entrenched in, engrossed in? You gotta really, really want it and really feel it. To embrace the true character of whatever's scripted for you?
- [62:21]
Patina Miller
No, I think it's repetition. I think anyone can learn how to examine a script and memorize lines. I think yes. I. Over my career, I have gotten really good at memorizing scripts very quickly. Cause I like to memorize just enough so I know what I want to do. So when I get into the room, I can be malleable, is what they say. So that with the director wants something different, I'm not stuck to a performance. I know what the words are. But if someone wants to change something, I'm okay with that. So. But the memorization is just another technique and, you know, training.
- [62:58]
Jay Williams
Where do you feel you are as an actress at this particular point in your career?
- [63:04]
Patina Miller
In what way?
- [63:06]
Jay Williams
In terms of what you imagined for yourself and how you believe you are in comparison to no names in particular, but to what the industry standard may label as elite?
- [63:21]
Patina Miller
Well, I don't know. I would never sit here and tell you that I'm elite, but I will tell you that I am right where I need to be. I have worked a long time. I'm not new to this. You know, I've worked in very different mediums. I've done different kinds of characters. You know, the actor's dream is to be able to do work that you feel proud of, work that you can really put yourself into and, you know, not regret it and just have as much fun. So I'm having fun right now in this season of my life. You know, these are the dreams that I dreamt of as a young performer, of wanting to do. I never saw quite this part, you know, but I love that my life has sort of blossomed into this thing that I am now able to do what I love to do on a bigger platform. And I think that I'm just getting started.
- [64:16]
Jay Williams
You are. Madam Secretary brought up Broadway. I'm thinking about these things that you have done throughout your career. Do you get concerned considering the success of Raising Kanan? A lot of times I've spoken to actors and actresses along the way, and they get concerned about being typecast because something is so successful. That's all anybody will see you as.
- [64:37]
Patina Miller
Yeah.
- [64:37]
Jay Williams
Do you ever find yourself thinking about that at all?
- [64:39]
Patina Miller
I think about it sometimes. But, you know, I've been very fortunate to play different kind of parts. You know, like, I started in theater. You know, my first show right off the bat was Sister Act. I played Whoopi's part. You know, I played it in London and on the stage. In New York City, you know, like, I've done Broadway work where I've done different things. I was a comedy, you know, Pippin called on a different set of skills. Then I did into the woods on Broadway as well. So, you know, I did period piece on pbs. So I've done really different kinds of work, and I'm hoping that people will see the entirety of my work and not just one character. I'm very proud of Raquel. I think all of those different roles prepared me for this, but I don't. I don't worry about being typecast. But the thing about me, if someone does try to typecast me, then I just would switch it up and I'll change it up. Cause, you know, I never do what's on the page anyway. That's the thing that you do, is you do the opposite. That's what makes it interesting.
- [65:39]
Jay Williams
Listen, I'm listening to you talk right now. You don't sound like Raquel and raising Candace. You sound totally different. How you get that accent.
- [65:45]
Patina Miller
But I can give you Raquel.
- [65:46]
Jay Williams
I know you can. I have no doubt about that. But how you change your.
- [65:50]
Patina Miller
How you.
- [65:50]
Jay Williams
Why you change your accent like that?
- [65:51]
Patina Miller
Cause I'm a professional.
- [65:52]
Talkspace Ad
Wow.
- [65:53]
Patina Miller
What I do.
- [65:53]
Jay Williams
A bunch of professionals.
- [65:54]
Patina Miller
It's what I do.
- [65:55]
Jay Williams
Tina, that can't do that. They're not you. They can't do that.
- [65:58]
Patina Miller
I don't know about them, but yeah.
- [66:00]
Jay Williams
What's your aspirations from here?
- [66:02]
Patina Miller
My aspirations from here, I think I just want to continue to do really grounded work. I want to work with really good writers. I want to work with really amazing directors who like taking chances and who want to work with really good actors. I am an actor that cares a lot about the process, about the entirety of, you know, the work. And I'm a dedicated actor. I think, you know, I happen to be friends and very close with so many brilliant actors. And so I pride myself on just being a part of that crew. And so, yeah, I want to continue to do what I'm doing. You know, another character that can do what Raquel has done. I had no idea it would. I mean, I hoped it would. We'll see.
- [66:51]
Jay Williams
Listen, I know a lot of people, you know, I mean, when you're acting, I want to know how hard are you on fellow actors and actresses? Meaning that you take it very, very seriously.
- [67:04]
Patina Miller
I take it very seriously.
- [67:05]
Jay Williams
Which means, you know, when somebody is not, you know, if you want to sit with somebody, it's not, whatever. What would you do in a situation where you're on A set with somebody, you're working with somebody, and they're not taking it as seriously as you would like them to take it. How would you respond to that?
- [67:20]
Patina Miller
Well, you know what, first off, it's not really my set. I think I know. So what I'm asking for me, what I do is I continue to do what I do all the time, which is come prepared and stay prepared. And so it really forces. Unfortunately, I gotta say, I don't really work with those people. So, you know, I've been very, very lucky to work with some really talented actors. Actors who show up every day like, you know, how lucky am I to work with London Brown, Makai Curtis, you know, Malcolm, you know, we Malcolm Mays, like, we are a really amazing team. And then we got Wendell Pierce and Tony Danza. I don't know what that's like, right. Like our cast is the cast that comes and they come prepared.
- [68:05]
Jay Williams
So I got to tell you, you know, I'm no actor, but I appear in General Hospital. You know, I've been in soap opera. You know what I'm saying? I've been in General Hospital. I'm going to be on law and order May 8.
- [68:16]
Patina Miller
So you an actor.
- [68:17]
Jay Williams
I ain't no act. There I go right there. There I go right there. I mean, I'm trying to look the part. I'm trying to play it off. I'm trying to play it off. Right. I'll tell you a quick story. I actually had to have an operation on my knuckles last year. Because even though I don't pride myself in being an actor, my show on espn, first take, my sports show, I mean, when they say first take, it really is. I pride myself on getting it right.
- [68:44]
Patina Miller
The first take. First take.
- [68:45]
Jay Williams
And this one, this particular day, I had seven different scenes. Bettina. Seven different scenes. And scene six, for some reason, I could not remember the lines to save my life. And I got so mad, I punched the bag. But I didn't know that the bag, it was in a gym, and I didn't know that the bag was a prop filled with bricks. And I broke my knuckles and had to get operated on at HSS Hospital for special surgery just last year. Cause I broke my damn knuckles because I couldn't remember my line. Because all I was thinking about was they had to redo the scene six times. And all I could think about is, I'm holding up the entire.
- [69:24]
Patina Miller
Aw.
- [69:25]
Jay Williams
The entire scene.
- [69:26]
Patina Miller
Cause you care.
- [69:27]
Jay Williams
Cause I cared. Cause that's how you would have took it. Cause I cared.
- [69:29]
Patina Miller
Yeah. Cause you Cared.
- [69:31]
Jay Williams
I'mma take that. I'mma take that. Before I let you get on out of here, let me ask you about this, too. I mean, because I understand you're an avid runner.
- [69:39]
Patina Miller
Yes.
- [69:40]
Jay Williams
And you performed the national anthem at the start of the 2023 New York City Marathon before completing the race.
- [69:46]
Patina Miller
Yes.
- [69:47]
Stephen A. Smith
Is that true?
- [69:47]
Patina Miller
Yeah, it's unfortunately true. I mean, listen, I love.
- [69:50]
Jay Williams
Unfortunately, you could run and you could sing. What's the problem?
- [69:53]
Patina Miller
Yeah, but I don't know if we do those together. Listen, I think it's. It's so amazing that I was able to do that, and I really am so thankful to New York Roadrunners for asking me to be a part of it. And, like, singing was the most amazing thing, but I don't know why I chose to, like, run run, too, you know?
- [70:08]
Jay Williams
That was what you're saying.
- [70:09]
Patina Miller
Yeah.
- [70:09]
Jay Williams
Cause it took some of the breath away.
- [70:11]
Patina Miller
Yeah. I probably should have waited, like, a little bit.
- [70:13]
Jay Williams
Yeah. You know, I'm not. See, I'm gonna be kind. I'm not gonna ask you when you finished. I'm gonna leave that a little. Oh, I know.
- [70:18]
Patina Miller
I finished.
- [70:19]
Jay Williams
You finished, though? But you finished. I was gonna ask where, but I'm.
- [70:21]
Patina Miller
Not gonna do that.
- [70:22]
Jay Williams
But you. Four hours.
- [70:23]
Patina Miller
Yeah.
- [70:23]
Jay Williams
That's not bad.
- [70:24]
Patina Miller
That's not bad at all.
- [70:25]
Jay Williams
That's not bad at all.
- [70:26]
Patina Miller
It's not bad at all. No.
- [70:27]
Jay Williams
And it's pretty damn good.
- [70:28]
Patina Miller
Yeah, it is pretty good.
- [70:30]
Jay Williams
Okay.
- [70:31]
Patina Miller
I'm getting faster and faster. We'll see.
- [70:34]
Jay Williams
She's an athlete, too. Okay, before I let you get on out of here, as we sit here right now thinking about the industry, I'm off. I'm often curious as to the changing times. Digital, you know, see streaming, how it's affected business in Hollywood, et cetera, et cetera. People look at that and they talk about how the industry has changed. Not as much work as it used to be, but I'm looking at all these outlets, and I'm saying, wait a minute. It could be more. Whatever. What's your opinion about all of those things in terms of the climate that we're living in right now and what folks need to do in your profession to stay afloat and if not, ascend, Considering the times that we live in. I'm talking about just the way the industry has changed.
- [71:15]
Patina Miller
I mean, think about it. The industry changes all the time. You know what I mean? Like, we. There was a writer's strikes before, and, like, there's always something. So, like, we're just in a season that things are Changing. And we're just trying to get used to and navigate this new world, you know, like, everybody's trying to get used to what it is now. And I think it's just staying the course, you know, staying ready, partnering with people and writing and. And, you know, I always, you know. Cause I come from the theater. It's being with your friends and creating and, you know, stay creating. You know, for me, that looks like, you know, being with my writer friends and talking about show different show ideas or singing and, you know, gigging. We call it writing. And so you just continue to stay ready for when the opportunity comes. I think. You know, is it perfect? No, it's not perfect. I think we don't really know what it's gonna be, but we just have to figure out how to make it the best for everyone.
- [72:22]
Jay Williams
So I need a favor. Don't die. I'm in on the show. We need you. You understand? I want this show to continue. This is season five. I need six, seven, eight. That's what I need. I was talking about the show. I was talking about the show. I was talking about the show. I was talking about the show. Absolutely. I was talking about the show. You can't go. You can't go anywhere because remember when we watched you watch Kanan later on, Mama had passed away. We don't need that problem, you know, saying, get rich, die trying. The movie you know, alluded to, Mama passed. No, we don't need that. We need you around. You going to be around. That's what we need. Patina, I'm. That's all I'm saying.
- [73:04]
Patina Miller
We'll see. You know, it's power. After all. Who knows? Nobody's safe.
- [73:09]
Jay Williams
That is true. That does. That is what makes the show the wonderful, the incomparable Patina Miller right here on the Stephen A. Smith Show. Be sure to check out all four seasons of Power Book 3, Raising Canaan, available to stream on Starz. Thank you so much. It was a pleasure.
- [73:26]
Patina Miller
Thank you so much for having me. I really appreciate it.
- [73:29]
Jay Williams
She's special. Thanks again to Patina Miller. Just can't thank enough. Listen, before we get out of here, I'd be remiss and neglecting to discuss the Met gala that took place Monday night in New York City. The theme of the Met gala was black dandyism. And for those of you who don't know, black dandyism is, according to one of my producers who wrote this up for me, because I didn't know. I didn't know how to define it per se. But black dandyism is a cultural movement where black individuals use fashion and personal style rooted in the historical tradition of European dandyism as a form of self expression and a way to challenge societal limitations. It's a way to reclaim agency, assert individuality, and even act as a form of resistance against negative stereotypes and racial prejudices. So I'm looking at the theme here, and I don't know what to say about these. I mean, who is this right here? Who is this? Right? That was Diana Ross. This is Pharrell with. With, I believe, his lady. This is Nicki Minaj. Okay, I see, I see the outfit. I see the outfit. I like that. I like. I like how she looks there. I don't know what to say about this stuff. I mean, Rihanna, she's pregnant, obviously. Again, she looks gorgeous. But we see that these are the kind of outfits that were. Were worn by a lot of our ancestors. No doubt about that. So they're living up to it. The accuracy of it. All right there. Who's that? That's Kim. That's Kim K. That's Kim K. Okay. I mean, that. Not bad. That, that's not bad at all. I'm not going to have anything negative to say about that. Andre 3000. Check this brother out with a piano on his back or something that looks like a piano. Now, do I think that's ultimately ridiculous? Yes, but not for him, because he's a musician and. Because he's a musician. I get it. And he put out a piano album yesterday, so I get it. I understand it. Major props to him. He's just bringing attention to what he's doing. So there's nothing wrong with that. I get it. Carrying music on his shoulders and stuff. Weight of the music industry on his back. That's what's imply. That's what it's implying. I get all of that. I understand that. So I get it. The outfits are very unique. Now this is Diana Ross. I mean, she's ageless. We get that. But I mean, that's a lot to carry around. I mean, my goodness. You know, I often wonder what the hell would I wear? I can't even think about it. It. That's Madonna. I know that. Okay. Okay. The outfit, I mean, you know, it's not like a virgin, but I get it, you know, saying, you know, you know, it's not saying that. Anna Wintour with Colon, Domingo and. And Lewis Hamilton. I, I like, I, I, I like. I mean, for a Met gala, that, that seems pretty fly. I like the Lewis Hamilton. I would have rocked the Lewis Hamilton outfit. Knowing me, I would have rocked something like that. That I wouldn't have rocked the other stuff. That's just not how I roll. I mean, that's just not me. Even though, I mean, look, this is Bad Bunny with the hat. And I got it now fit the gloves. I see it. He ain't trying to be Michael Jackson, but he's saying Michael Jackson ain't the only one that had to wear gloves. God rest his soul. I get that part. All right, that's about it, ladies and gentlemen. That's me commenting on the Met Gala. I don't know, too. I mean, I know how I look in the fashion that I rock, you know, But. But this other extra stuff. I know. I mean, that's beyond my scope, okay? But I know what looks good and what doesn't. What looks excessive and what doesn't. Diana Ross looked good, but excessive. Then again, she's always been that way. But major props to her. You know what I'm saying? I mean, I got it. I've been invited to the Met Gala about three times. I've never gone. I've never had a desire to go. My producer doesn't know when to shut the hell up because now he crossed the line. You gotta go. Sit back. You go. Okay. I don't feel like going. Okay. This is. These people, you know, you go too far. Once again, talking too much. I'm not going. I have had no desire to go Met Gala, you know, just not my flavor, you know? But they always having it during the NBA playoffs. So I guess the invite isn't really authentic because they know I can't go, you know, because I'm too busy. So maybe they send the invite to say they invited me and I couldn't go, knowing I couldn't go because I have obligations. But it is what it is. I'm not going. I'm not going. Here's my issue, though, before I get on out of here. I don't appreciate the fact that Spike Lee was there. Yo, man, the Knicks playing. What the hell were you doing at the Met Gala? Damn. The Met Gala, they don't come before the Knicks. Very disappointed with Spike Lee. Very disappointed. Should have been there, but they did win without you. So maybe you should stay away for game two. And if they lose game. If Boston loses Game two by some miracle. Because I don't think that's going to happen if the Knicks come back to the Garden or when the Knicks come back to the Garden this weekend for game three. If they've won the first two games games and Spike Lee wasn't in attendance. Then you can't come for Game three because that means you the jinx if they lose and we're all gonna know it. You wouldn't have that problem if you had showed up. But then again, black dandyism was the theme. And being a historical individual and a proud black man, man that Spike Lee is, he actually thought that was more important than the Knicks. And he's right. So I guess I can forgive him. But he better not show off a Game 2 in the next lose. That's all I'm gonna say. That's it for this edition of the Stephen A. Smith Show. Hope you all enjoyed the show. I got to get on out of here for the next few days, but I'll be back with you before the week is up. Until then, everybody, I'm signing off. Peace and love. Take care of yourself. God bless.
- [79:51]
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- [81:21]
Stephen A. Smith
You're listening to an iHeart podcast.