ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has always drawn eyeballs to him thanks to his outspoken, energetic, and excitable personality. He is known for his hot takes and provides entertainment value to millions of NBA and NFL fans.
While he also has a history as a legitimate journalist, it is debatable whether his current role with ESPN qualifies as that of a journalist or reporter.
Draymond Green, the four-time NBA champion forward, feels Smith shouldn’t be called a journalist.
Draymond Green Pushes Back on ‘Journalist’ Tag for Stephen A. Smith
Speaking on the latest episode of his “Draymond Green Show” podcast, Green, a 14-year veteran in the league, told Jemele Hill that Smith says he’s a journalist but doesn’t live up to that label.
“I’ve had my words with Stephen A. Listen, he’s great at what he does. He’s arguably the best at what he does, and that’s your lane — respect, cool. But I also think where the line gets blurred in a negative way for journalists is, he throws out the journalist tag all the time — ‘I am actually a journalist,’ this, that, another,” Green said.
Draymond green tells jemele hill that Stephen a smith blurs the lines when it comes to journalism. He always says he’s a journalist but is never in the locker rooms speaking to the players pic.twitter.com/Uzofjxt72O
— NBA Hoops (@Thechat101) July 7, 2026
“But to your point, there isn’t the going in the locker room. There isn’t the, he comes into their arena. You really don’t get next to him.”
“… You say all of these things on television and then you throw out the word ‘journalist,’ which almost makes people, especially athletes, not respect journalists, because you’re throwing out the journalist tag, and then you’re doing that, and people don’t respect that.”
To be fair, Smith, who has been on ESPN for two decades in one capacity or another, did have a stint as a Philadelphia Inquirer columnist in the 2000s, covering the Philadelphia 76ers.
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Skip Bayless, another sports television personality who has received the kind of criticism Green gave Smith, was also a respected reporter and journalist for decades. He wrote for outlets such as the Los Angeles Times and The Dallas Morning News, and won several awards for journalism.
Smith has gotten heat for some of his hot takes (most recently his spat with former Boston Celtics’ star Jaylen Brown) to the point where it has seemingly become intertwined with his personality.
On the other hand, his personality and preferences, such as his self-avowed hatred of the Dallas Cowboys and their fans, and his love for the New York Knicks, attract many viewers and make him a valued member of ESPN’s on-air roster.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Smith signed a contract with the network that will pay him over $100 million over five years. Clearly, people want to watch him and listen to him, even if he cannot be called a journalist in the true sense of the word.
You are so wrong, I for one don’t want to listen or watch SAS for any reason. I don’t like the Cowboys either but I still don’t want to watch him. He thinks that his word is gospel and that no one is better than him, PLEASE.