NBA Fans were quick to react after news broke that Stephen A. Smith is no longer part of the new NBA Countdown lineup. The update came from @TheDunkCentral, who wrote,
“ESPN has removed Stephen A. Smith from NBA Countdown.”
ESPN has removed Stephen A. Smith from NBA Countdown, per @awfulannouncing pic.twitter.com/hCnO0dT0Mx
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) November 18, 2025
That one line was enough to wake up every group chat like a last-minute winner in stoppage time.
ESPN announced the new team with Malika Andrews hosting, backed by Brian Windhorst, Michael Malone, and Kendrick Perkins, with Shams Charania joining for reports. NBA Fans took it as a big shift, and some treated it like a fresh season starting.
One user, @joshegbuna, said, “WE will all be watching NBA Countdown from now,” which pretty much summed up the mood for those who wanted a cleaner pregame experience.
Still, it wasn’t all cheering. @reason331 fired a shot of his own:
“ESPN has the worst on air talent imaginable this doesn’t change anything.”
NBA Fans always argue like rival Ultras, so mixed reactions were expected.
Stephen A. talked about the situation, saying the whole thing is a “non-story.” He said he chose to lighten his Countdown duties because of his workload. He will still be on First Take, his radio projects, and the rest of his ESPN commitments. He added that he may appear on the show when needed. That made things sound more like a lineup change than a breakup.
Even with his long run on the show, the network clearly wanted a different rhythm. NBA Fans are treating this change like a long-awaited patch update, and whether people love it or hate it, NBA Countdown just became a hotter topic than most November games.
NBA Fans Debate Politics, Players, and Pressure After Stephen A.’s Countdown Exit
The reaction from NBA Fans didn’t stay on the court. It went straight into politics, old grudges, and the long-running love-hate relationship between players and Stephen A. Smith. One user, @DrewBoylhart, gave a strong take:
“Talk just a little bit of conservatism, and ‘WOKE ESPN’ and ‘WOKE NBA Silver,’ owned by the Chinese, will take you off the air. Steven isn’t even a Republican or MAGA, but it doesn’t matter.”
Talk just a little bit of conservatism, and “WOKE ESPN” and “WOKE NBA Silver,” owned by the Chinese, will take you off the air. Steven isn’t even a Republican or MAGA, but it doesn’t matter.
— Drew Boylhart (@DrewBoylhart) November 18, 2025
That view pushed the conversation away from the show and into a debate about how much freedom ESPN talent really has.
But not everybody bought that angle. @OceanSpray77 replied, “So we jump to a political conclusion?”
NBA Fans often fight like Premier League supporters after a bad VAR call, so it was no surprise that the replies split into camps fast.
Another comment pointed at a different reason entirely.
@jayeasyyy said, “I think you’re forgetting alot of the nba players don’t like him to begin with.”
That added a new layer to the debate, turning attention to Smith’s long history of calling out players on air. Some stars clapped back at him over the years, and some fans think this was part of the quiet buildup that pushed the show in a new direction.
Stephen A. explained his side, saying he simply reduced his workload. He mentioned balancing his studio duties, radio shows, and his own platforms. That made the move sound more like timing than punishment.
NBA Fans are treating the whole thing like a midseason trade. Some think it is a win, others think nothing changed, and a few believe the politics aren’t just noise. Whatever the truth is, the shakeup made NBA Countdown more talked about than any pregame show in months.
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Dan has been active in sports since 2016 and has worked behind the scenes as a scriptwriter for basketball, volleyball, and other sports. At a time, Dan has also been working as a sports commentator for CBA Pilipinas. During the pandemic, he has also been actively writing betting articles for CashBet and BetNow.
eason trade. Some think it is a win, others think nothing changed, and a few believe the politics aren’t just noise. Whatever the truth is, the shakeup made NBA Countdown more talked about than any pregame show in months.
