Stephen A. Smith yells, “What the heck happened to my NBA season?” and shoots at JJ Redick in the First Take Cold Open
STEPHEN A. Smith didn’t disappoint with an epic tirade at Tuesday’s First Take Cold Open.
The introduction of the popular host comes after the Los Angeles Lakers were defeated by the Denver Nuggets in the Western Conference Finals following their 113-111 loss in Game 4 on Monday.
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Smith began the First Take show with fake tears and his head bowed as he was joined by former NBA player and analyst JJ Redick and basketball insider Brian Windhorst.
While at the Los Angeles studios, Stephen A., 55, lamented that the Lakers’ departure meant he had to return to his workplace in New York, where Molly Qerim is the host.
“The Lakers are done,” Smith said. “It means my time in LA is over. …And that means I have to go back to New York knowing it’s going to be cold as soon as I get back.”
He continued, saying, “I like the weather. I like the sunshine.”
Smith then poked fun at Redick, citing Windhorst’s stops in France and Miami.
“Maybe JJ Redick is okay with not having a tan, but I like the sunshine. I like the warm weather.”
“I’m upset and jealous of Windy (Windhorst),” he said. “One minute he’s in France and the next minute he’s in South Beach living the good life. I mean, everyone but me has it.”
Stephen A. then responded to quotes from LeBron James questioning his future in the sport.
“And to make matters worse, one of the greatest of all time is thinking about retirement. What the heck happened to my NBA season?”
For the kill shot, Smith playfully took aim at Redick’s likely lack of “sympathy” for his worries.
“I don’t seek sympathy because I know JJ Redick is incapable when it comes to me,” said Stephen A.
The First Take show didn’t seem to hold back on Tuesday.
After Smith caught a cold, Qerim told him, “I don’t want you to complain.”
The Nuggets play either the Miami Heat or the Boston Celtics in the finals.
Miami, meanwhile, will look to complete the win over Boston at home on Tuesday.
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