Who does Stephen A. Smith owe all his name, fame and success to? Tex Johnson maybe. Or better known to the general population as Shaquille O’Neal. He claims that he made Smith into the ratings-pulling sportscaster he is. With a big man’s support comes bigger confidence. Like ’96 Shaq wanting to beat Alonzo Mourning’s salary, Smith covets the title of the highest paid ESPN analyst. He is currently negotiating a new contract with ESPN, including a payraise to $25 million a year. Shaq said on The Big Podcast, his friend wouldn’t have the leverage to command these terms if it wasn’t for him.

“I remember when he signed for $10 million and he’s doing a great job and I wish him well and I hope he can make all the money he can can make but he needs to thank me,” Shaq said with a very straight face. He means it when he says, “I made him who he is.”

As Shaq said, Smith indeed came from humble beginnings as an NBA columnist exclusively writing on the Philadelphia 76ers in the early ’90s. Then Orlando Magic drafted Shaquille O’Neal, NBA media had grown from the Michael Jordan era, through the Shaq and Kobe dynasty, and is here on the fringes of the LeBron age. Smith’s career expanded just the same. In 2023, he ranked ninth as the highest-paid sportscaster making $12 million a year. Shaq’s still waiting for the Smith’s thank you note.

“When he first came on remember like you wasn’t making no money talking about the Sixers. Once you started talking crazy about me and me and you would go back and forth and you got hot… So, you’re welcome Stephen.” Take the hint, SAS. Unless you want Tex Johnson to come to the negotiation table.

Stephen A. Smith returns the favor

Now Smith is seeking to outrank ESPN’s football analysts like Troy Aikman’s salary. He reportedly turned down $18 million from ESPN – that’s $10 million than JJ Redick’s salary as the new head coach of the Lakers. Shaq’s TNT salary since renewing his contract in 2022 is $10 million a year. Smith not only wants an annual salary of $25 million, which would be comparable to Tom Brady’s Fox Sports salary, he wants to structure the deal with more creative and operational control. It indicates he has major plans as ESPN retains the marquee rights of the new NBA media deal.

This same deal is pushing TNT to the sidelines. Something Smith hates. O’Neal slips into his annoying Dallas Cowboys-loving, fake Texas accent drawling alter ego, Tex Johnson whenever he drops by the Stephen A. Smith Show. Charles Barkley will never let Smith live down his embarrassing college stats. That doesn’t change their friendship. Smith has time and again implored on his shows for the NBA and TNT to keep Shaq, Chuck, Kenny and Ernie on TV or it’s a big loss to sports media.

He blatantly dismissed Chuck’s straightforward retirement statement as a lie too. It does seem like if Smith’s going to continue as the highest paid ESPN sportscaster, he wants to be in the same space as his TNT friends too.

Stay tuned for more such updates, and to follow what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, has to say about the infamous Shaq-Kobe feud, Caitlin Clark’s Olympic snub, and more, watch this video.

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