ESPN has fired some of the well-known figures in the US sports media industry in order to cut costs. But it shouldn’t be a surprise since Disney, the parent company hinted at the possibility of layoffs in February. What’s surprising here is the steps taken despite profitability. No matter what the reason, 20 significant personalities lost their jobs last week.

NBA analyst Stephen A. Smith is among the last remaining members of the network.

This past week, Smith admitted his regret about their departure and thanked other colleagues like Jalen Rose, Jeff Van Gundy, and Keywshawn Johnson. He also expressed hope that Van Gundy would soon find a new job. Currently, he is the highest-paid analyst on ESPN’s payroll and is announcing a weird strategy to make $20mn on live TV!

Stephen A. Smith reveals his strategy to make $2oM

After a difficult week for ESPN, the remaining members of the show FirstTake engaged in a lighthearted and humorous conversation. The host references a tweet by a Twitter user for an interesting question. The question was then posed to the cast member, Stephen A. Smith. What ensued next was all fun and humor among the panel.

The host makes a proposition to Smith, offering him the option of collecting $1 million upfront or scoring 15 points in an NBA game to win $20 million.

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Stephen was quick to respond to this! He accepted the proposition to score 15 points in an NBA game and then went further to explain his strategy. He references Robert De Niro’s classic, King of Comedy, to justify his answer.

His strategy included employing strong individuals who will help him score. He said, “Here’s my strategy, I would hire a bunch of goons and their sole job is to set a pitch to get me open, that’s it. I’m gonna have some open shots because they’re gonna be hurting people and I’m gonna get a few shots on and I’m gonna go for that $20M.”

However, guest host Jay Williams rejected his strategy. Williams tells him, “First off, you’re gonna be tired in the first two minutes of the damn game. You’re gonna have no legs to even get a shot off.”

Smith, the last man standing!

Smith, with a net worth of around $20M, is one of the top TV personalities in the sports world. His views are mostly controversial but are loved by viewers anyhow. He joined ESPN in 2003 and quickly became known for his strong opinions. One of the most significant and popular opinions he’s given is on the never-ending GOAT debate. In the debate, Smith always backs Michael Jordan over LeBron James.

He started as a sports analyst on shows like “SportsCenter,” “NFL Live,” and “NBA Shootaround.” In 2014, the NBA Analyst signed a three-year contract worth $3 million per year. From 2015 to April 2019, his salary ranged between $5 million and $6 million.

In April 2019, he reportedly signed a new contract that would keep him at ESPN until 2021, earning $8-$10 million per year.

Whether you love him or hate him, his passionate and outspoken commentary makes him a prominent figure in the world of sports media.

Meanwhile, the NBA analyst is willing to play to claim $20M! What will you do? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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