Report: Stephen A. Smith Coming to “NBA Countdown” in ESPN Shakeup

The "First Take" host may take over some hosting duties on "SportsCenter" 

Stephen A. Smith Coming to "NBA Countdown" in ESPN Shakeup
Stephen A. Smith at Madison Square Garden. (Efren Landaos/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty)
SOPA Images/LightRocket via Gett

It doesn’t seem possible, but Stephen A. Smith is going to be on ESPN even more than he is already.

According to a report from The Big Lead, Smith will be joining the crew of the Worldwide Leader’s NBA Countdown studio show. 

“Our sources indicate that Wednesday night is the most likely time for him to be involved, but cautioned that plans are not yet set in stone,” according to TBL.

The publication also reports the First Take host may take over some hosting duties on SportsCenter on the nights he appears on Countdown.

The addition of Smith to the show’s analyst panel is just one of the changes coming to Countdown this season. 

Richard Deitsch of Sports Illustrated previously reported that Rachel Nichols and Maria Taylor will be taking over as hosts of the show and will split the assignment in some manner during the coming season. 

That means the show’s current host, Michelle Beadle, is out of a job and her future at ESPN seems to be in jeopardy.

As for the former players who are also regulars on Countdown, Chauncey Billups will move from studio to work as a game analyst and Paul Pierce, despite telling some hilarious stories, might be on the outside of the Countdown crew looking in. 

The only regular player who will return to Countdown is Jalen Rose.

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