'RIDICULOUS'
First Take guest savages Stephen A. Smith for NBA Finals outfit and dubs it the ‘dumbest thing I’ve ever seen’
Smith was quick to defend himself following Russo's rant
CHRIS "Mad Dog" Russo has torn into Stephen A. Smith after the First Take host went viral ahead of Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Throughout the NBA Finals, which was ultimately won by the Boston Celtics, Smith was regularly filmed entering the arena in one of his signature suave suits.
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Smith's dramatic entrances garnered huge attention, and sometimes mockery, on both social media and on First Take.
In Wednesday's episode, Russo presented his weekly "What are you mad about?" segment.
This time, his chosen topic was Smith's arrival at the Finals - specifically pointing out his walk into the American Airlines Center in Dallas ahead of Game 4, as filmed by ESPN.
"This is ridiculous. He thinks he's playing," Russo commented.
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An excited Molly Qerim quickly admitted that she was yet to see this particular clip, in which Smith could be seen strutting into the arena in a white suit complete with sunglasses and black leather shoes.
"You've got a guy behind you, you've got the cameras, what do you think you're going to score 36 this night with the sunglasses on?" Russo asked.
"I mean, this is the dumbest thing I've ever seen in my life."
With Smith watching on beside him, Russo couldn't help but ask, "Why are you doing this?"
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He called his colleague's entrance "laughable," adding, "We know you're a star Steve, okay, we know you're a star [but] you don't got to show off."
Smith, however, saw the criticism as a compliment, asking if this was Russo's way of saying his "suit was pretty fly."
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Qerim then opted to intervene, conceding that "it was a great suit and you did look good."
But she too took the opportunity to poke fun at Smith, joking, "He walks out like he's LeBrad. He's got this irrational confidence and that's what makes him Stephen A."
Ultimately, Smith defended himself by claiming that he never asked for the attention from ESPN camera crews when arriving, before adding that that's how players "need to look" upon arrival at a game, telling them to "take notes."
"If nothing else, I did look like money," Smith eventually concluded before walking off nonchalantly, while Qerim commented, "Oh Lord pray for me."
First Take viewing figures
First Take went from strength to strength under the guidance of Stephen A. Smith and Molly Qerim last year.
The weekday ESPN debate show averaged 496,000 viewers in 2023 - making it the most-watched year in program history.
Its December average of 611,000 was a 24% year-on-year increase compared to 2022.
The show also reported more than 250 million views on YouTube.
First Take was helped by the addition of Shannon Sharpe alongside Smith and Qerim after he left Fox Sports' Undisputed.
Viewers were quick to comment on the hilarious exchange on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"I agree with @MadDogUnleashed, @stephenasmith really walked like he was about to cook whoever was guarding him that night," one fan said.
"Somebody had to say it and I'm glad it was Mad Dog," commented a second.
"Mad Dog cooked," added another.
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While a fourth countered, "Dude was going to be on the broadcast, unlike Mad Dog.
"Why would you not dress up to be covering the NBA Finals on national television?"
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