The NBA recently announced the rosters and coaches for the 2024 All-Star NBA Celebrity Game scheduled to be held on 18th February. In an interesting turn of events, veteran NBA analyst and host of ESPN’s First Take Stephen A. Smith will suit up as a coach. His co-host and former NFL superstar Shannon Sharpe will take the reins as coach for the opposing team. This isn’t Stephen A.’s first stint as an All-Star Celebrity game coach.

The analyst coached the 2020 team, alongside the TV host and chef Guy Fieri as Asst. Coach. History was made as Stephen A. became the first person in any NBA All-Star Celebrity Game to receive a technical foul. Taking on the coach’s responsibility for the second time this year, he looks back on this moment and says he is still bitter about it.

Stephen A. could get another foul this time

Stephen A. admits in an episode of First Take that even after four years, he is unable to get over the T-foul served by one of Commissioner Adam Silver’s refs. “I was the first person in history to get T’ed up. I got a technical foul last time, I was coaching. I am still salty about that and I might get another one again,” the ESPN millionaire says. However, he brings this up to target his soon-to-be on-court opponent Shannon Sharpe.

Knowing his co-host’s temperament, Stephen A. is confident that Shannon can try to intimidate the refs, but he will only manage to get on their nerves. All of this will force his team to lose the game because, as Stephen A. puts it, Shay “don’t know how to act on that damn sideline.” Despite this, he gives out a fair warning to his opponent coach that he can “parade down the sidelines” all he wants, but there is no way he can intimidate him or anyone else, for that matter.

Stephen A. accuses the NBA of being rigged

The 2020 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game was won by Team Michael Wilbon, and Team Stephen A. lost 47-62. Along the way, in a classic Stephen A. behavior, his competitive side took over and got heated on the sidelines. The ref was not having it and served him a T-foul, making history. Later, he said during a show, “It was a rig job, man.”

But why did he say it was rigged? Well, in his own words, he was given one ball handler (rapper Quavo), and “about five to six people under five feet tall.” This, according to him, was a disadvantage, stacking the odds against their team. After all these years, Stephen A. is still holding a grudge. This year’s game could be a moment of redemption for him.

Read More- Despite Reportedly Earning $13 Million Annually, Stephen A. Smith Asserts He Hasn’t Made It Due to 1 Unfulfilled Wish

Knowing Stephen A., do you think he will push himself to the point of receiving another foul this year? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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