Regardless of how well-liked a player is, Smith has always had strong ideas about the sport and its participants. Notably, he has often disparaged LeBron James in the GOAT discussion. Importantly, he also contributed to his stature by voicing his views without concern for the repercussions. In a recent podcast with Paul George, he spoke up on his unshakeable status in entertainment and talked about his development in the NBA.
On a recent episode of Podcast P with Paul George, Smith opened up about an episode from his early days when a Sports Illustrated reporter scrutinized and questioned his place in the ESPN office. Smith said, “He gonna sit up there and write, ‘why the hell ain’t Steven A laid off?’ Well, first of all, I’m number one.” Interestingly, Smith couldn’t remember his foe’s name and he also added, “Forgot his name because he’s real- …He’s irrelevant now.”
Smith got a huge deal for $8 million in 2019, making him the highest-paid ESPN announcer at the time, according to the New York Post. After four years, he earns $12 million annually, more than nearly any NBA coach. As soon as they heard the news, fans flooded social media with negative remarks on the leading expert.