Stephen A. Smith has seemingly reopened the controversial discussion about athletes calling themselves world champions, which US runner Noah Lyles sparked after the Denver Nuggets won the NBA championship last year.
Following Team USA’s win over France to claim the gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics, the team’s official X account posted a photo of the team standing on the podium, with a caption asking if they’re considered world champions now.
This week on “The Stephen A. Smith Show,” the NBA analyst expressed his point of view as to why the NBA champions can call themselves world champions, also calling Noah Lyles out in the process.
“When you look at the fabric of the NBA rosters, you see players from all over the world blessing rosters. That’s why they can call themselves world champion, because the best that the world has to offer in the sport of basketball find themselves participating in NBA competition, Noah Lyles,” said Smith.
“That’s why. So I appreciate Team USA saying, ‘Are we world champions now?’ Thank you very much for doing that,” he added.
Despite Team USA’s Olympic win, many still consider Germany the world champions after winning the last FIBA World Cup.
Stephen A. Smith doesn’t want to be ‘pigeonholed in sports’
In his recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter’s Mikey O’Connell, Stephen A. Smith expressed his interest in branching out. The reporter recalled Smith’s interview with The New York Times last year where the outspoken broadcaster said that he’d “welcome a reprieve from engaging in a contentious format on TV every day.” The “First Take” host clarified his words in that interview.
“It’s not a matter of wanting less. I love First Take. I hope to do it for years to come, if things could be worked out. My issue is not First Take. It’s about being limited to First Take,” Smith said.
“There’s a lot that I can do. I know how to interview, host television shows, expand my horizons beyond the world of sports. I wouldn’t mind doing something similar to Bill Maher or John Oliver or The Daily Show. If I can do my debate show in the morning and then do other things, I’d be very happy with it,” he added.
Aside from hosting his eponymous podcast and “First Take,” Smith is also a featured columnist for ESPN and the Philadelphia Inquirer.
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