No, Stephen A. Smith Is Not Fired by ESPN – Rumors Explained

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Speculation persists that ESPN could have let go Stephen A. Smith, following reports where a fan caught him playing solitaire on-screen during the NBA Finals. Smith, who joined ESPN in 2003 and has been a fixture there since, initially began his tenure as an analyst for NBA Shootaround (now known as NBA Countdown).

As both an analyst, commentator, and executive producer for shows like First Take and The Stephen A. Smith Show on ESPN, I’ve been keeping busy. Lately, there have been whispers about my future with the network, which has understandably left fans feeling uneasy. However, I want to clear things up: Are the rumors true that I am no longer connected to ESPN? Not yet, at least. I’m still here, bringing you all the latest sports news and analysis. Let’s hope it stays this way!

Here are all the details.

Has Stephen A. Smith been fired by ESPN for playing solitaire?

No, Stephen A. Smith has not been by from ESPN. The rumors are false.

On Friday evening, a spectator managed to observe Stephen A. Smith’s smartphone usage during Game 4 of the NBA Finals between the Indiana Pacers and Oklahoma City Thunder. In the video, it seemed like Smith was engaged in Solitaire on his mobile device, which ignited a buzz that eventually stirred speculation about him being let go from ESPN.

Smith has switched to X (previously Twitter) to discuss the viral photo, admitting that he did indeed play solitaire but during a break, not during the actual game. He commented, “Indeed! That’s me. Who would have thought…I can multitask. Especially during TIMEOUTS! I hope everyone is enjoying the NBA Finals. This one’s going seven games now, folks!” However, despite Smith’s explanation, a notice on X deemed his comment misleading, stating “Stephen was playing solitaire on his phone while the game was in progress.

Furthermore, during a discussion on SiriusXM NBA Radio, Smith remained unperturbed by the criticism. He stated, “I simply continue to do what I’ve always done,” Smith asserted. “For those who disapprove, they can just respectfully disagree.

In other words, he emphasized his focus on the game by saying, “When I’m watching a game, I give my undivided attention to it.” He also mentioned that even during brief pauses in the action, such as when there’s a break or a timeout, he can still engage with the game for a short while.

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2025-06-18 11:41