Not too long ago, Stephen A. Smith received a journalism award. But unlike the happiness that usually comes with the word “award,” the ESPN veteran was handed the “Thumbs Down” award from the National Association of Black Journalists. What made it even more shocking was that the organization had once celebrated him. Smith, however, didn’t hold back and fired back at the NABJ after previously warning them.

“This is not objectivity, this was a smear job, but it won’t stop me,” Smith said on Straight Shooter. “I don’t want enemies, but I’m not here to be liked. I’m here to call things as I see them, which I’ve earned the right to do over a journalism career that now spans 33 years.”

During the award presentation, NABJ cited a certain pattern of “disparaging commentary” toward prominent Black women, though they did not name a specific incident. NABJ President Errin Haines later pointed to specific instances, but Smith argues the criticism was still not journalistic.

“People behind the scenes in a political stratosphere, in my opinion, influenced your decision to do what you did,” Smith continued. “If these so-called disparaging things I did were true and I was saying it about black female conservatives, you wouldn’t have said a word, which means it’s not my credibility that’s in question. It’s yours.”

Haines said that NABJ considered Smith’s comments about Vice President Kamala Harris when she ran for President, Representative Jasmine Crockett, and his public dispute with journalist Joy‑Ann Reid before making their decision to award him.

“Stephen A. Smith is somebody that speaks publicly and has an opinion that is valuable as a prominent voice in this country, but what does it mean when that voice and that platform are being used in a way that diminishes the public voice and presence of Black women in our society?” Haines told Capital B.

Crucially, Haines also acknowledged that Smith had done a lot of good with NABJ over the years and thought it was “appropriate to call this out.” She invited the ESPN analyst to talk about “how we move differently going forward.”

During his rant, however, Smith noted he invited Haines to have that conversation on air, but she declined and preferred to talk off air. The NABJ, though, re-clarified its stance in a statement: “At no point did President Haines decline a conversation with Mr. Smith or rule out a future public conversation.”

In fact, Haines and the organization announced that they’re open to “meaningful engagement” with the other ‘Thumbs Down’ recipients as well, which include CBS News, The Washington Post, Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr, and local TV station owner and media executive DuJuan McCoy.

When asked about why a record five awards were handed out this year, Haines admitted she was “trying to hold institutions and public figures accountable whenever their actions are harmful to Black journalists,” while making it clear that “it’s not about whether we personally like or dislike somebody.”

However, Stephen A. Smith hasn’t agreed with the NABJ’s assessment from the night he was awarded and reacted almost immediately on X, warning he would not stay quiet.

“The @NABJ wants to call folks out, fine! You had your turn, now mine is coming. Let’s see who REALLY deserves a Thumbs Down award when it comes to the Black Community, after I say my peace.”

This is the same organization that embraced Smith’s ‘First Take’ show during its 2024 and 2025 ceremonies. In fact, the ESPN veteran even cut short vacation time to attend one of them because the event reminded him of “what togetherness is all about.”

The criticism is beyond NABJ…

Smith has long faced criticism from within the NBA community. Etan Thomas, a former NBA player, wrote in The Guardian that Smith criticized Black athletes such as LeBron James and Kyrie Irving far more than their white peers over the years.

Draymond Green has also questioned Smith’s credibility, noting his reliance on unnamed sources while still calling himself a journalist.

“The anonymous sources and all of these things… which almost makes people, especially athletes, not respect journalists because you’re throwing out the journalist tag,” the Warriors veteran said.

Meanwhile, the ESPN veteran’s back-and-forth with Jaylen Brown this summer has also done major damage to his reputation. It started when Smith challenged Brown’s “favorite year” statement that came after his Celtics team badly crashed out of the playoffs. Smith called it an “awful, awful look.”

But days later, matters got worse when Brown retaliated and labeled Smith the “face of clickbait media,” accusing him of crossing lines regarding personal lives and character. The analyst soon warned Brown to “be careful what you wish for.” In return, however, the NBA star then doubled down, calling Smith “unethical.”

Now, we aren’t saying these offseason feuds have played a role in Smith getting his NABJ ‘Thumbs Down’ award, but this series of events does tarnish his reputation.