ESPN’s NBA Countdown has undergone plenty of changes over the years. If it were up to Stephen A. Smith, he’d host the show with a “dream partner.”
According to Andrew Marchand of the New York Post, Smith wants to team up with NBA legend Magic Johnson on ESPN’s NBA Countdown. No, he’s not kidding.
We’re not sure how well the two would work together. NBA Countdown previously built a reputation with strong pregame analysis, which has lacked in recent years. Neither Smith or Johnson provides strong basketball analysis, especially on Twitter (talking about you, Magic).
The reality is that ESPN is wanting to give Smith whatever he wants. He’s become the face of ESPN’s programming. Pairing him with Magic would be quite a show based on reputation alone.
“These days, what Stephen A. Smith wants at ESPN, Stephen A. gets. Next up, Magic Johnson,” Marchand wrote on NYPost.com. “Smith wants to team up with Johnson, possibly on “NBA Countdown,” the pregame show that leads into the NBA Finals and other marquee games, according to sources.”
NEWS: Stephen A. Smith wants to team up with Magic Johnson on ESPN, The Post has learned.https://t.co/w3vQSzOACR
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) August 26, 2021
That’s not all, though. Stephen A. Smith also wants to add Michael Wilbon to the mix.
NEWS: Stephen A’s Big 3 would have him team with Magic & Wilbon, according to sources.https://t.co/w3vQSzOACR
— Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) August 26, 2021
Michael Wilbon could be great with Stephen A. Smith, and Magic Johnson could serve as a middle-man of sorts. Wilbon has no issue blasting others for sports takes as he’s done thousands of times with Tony Kornheiser on Pardon the Interruption.
There’s no doubt a Smith-Wilbon-Johnson trio would garner a potentially massive audience based on the names alone. But in terms of the actual content, we’re skeptical the three can produce a worthwhile NBA pregame show.
The post Report: Stephen A. Smith Has Dream Partner For ESPN Show appeared first on The Spun.
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