An unexpected move has shaken the NBA TV coverage world. ESPN has made a change to its NBA broadcast lineup, removing Stephen A. Smith from NBA Countdown after four consecutive seasons on the network’s pregame show.
The move is reportedly part of a broader overhaul of ESPN’s NBA programming and comes as the network prepares for a new era of basketball coverage. Despite his removal from the program, Smith is not leaving the network.
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A new show without Stephen A. Smith
According to reports, ESPN is shifting toward a restructured panel that will have Malika Andrews as the lead host, featuring Brian Windhorst, Michael Malone, and Kendrick Perkins, with insider Shams Charania contributing regularly too. This new group will be in charge of the pregame and halftime duties on the ESPN broadcast nights.
Smith’s absence from the lineup marks one of the most notable changes to the show since he joined the program four years ago.
The possible reasons of his removal
While the move may appear abrupt, several factors clould have contributed to Smith’s removal:
Earlier this year, Smith signed a five-year extension worth at least $100 million, making him one of the highest-paid personalities in sports media. That deal already signaled changes: Smith was expected to pull back from NBA Countdown to focus more on First Take and other high-visibility ventures across ESPN platforms.
As the network resets its NBA presence, executives appear committed to refreshing the tone and chemistry of their studio coverage. The updated lineup will bring another kind of analysis and reporting that ESPN sees as the future, a shift that naturally reduces the role of a commentator like Smith.
- Scale back Smith’s workload
Just NBA Countdown itselfs requires a full-time work with pregame, halftime, postgame and the whole national slate so it will be impossible to combine it with the other project Stephen has in mind. The good thing though, he will eventually be on the show, as he will be invited to make an appearence every now and then.
As he said, despite his NBA Countdown removal, he remains the face of First Take, which is still ESPN’s most-watched studio show. His new contract allows him to expand his portfolio across digital, radio, and other platforms. He is still expected to make occasional appearances during high-profile NBA moments but will no longer serve as Countdown’s central presence.
