ESPN Pays Stephen A. Smith $100 Million to Not Watch NBA Finals – Here’s Why”
In a move that has left sports fans and media analysts stunned, ESPN has reportedly paid iconic sports personality Stephen
A. Smith a jaw-dropping $100 million — not to appear, not to comment, and most shockingly, not to watch the NBA Finals.
Yes, you read that right.
The deal, described by insiders as “the most expensive silence in sports history,” comes amid reports that Smith’s larger-than-life takes and fiery commentary were overshadowing the games themselves. According to sources close to ESPN, the network wanted to give the Finals room to breathe — without Smith’s animated rants dominating the headlines.
“Every time Steph Curry missed a shot, the next day became The Stephen A. Show, not game coverage,” said an anonymous ESPN executive. “It was brilliant — but sometimes brilliance has to be benched.”
The $100 million deal includes a full media blackout during the Finals: no tweets, no podcast mentions, and definitely no “First Take” meltdowns. Smith himself responded with a smile: “You mean I get paid not to talk? About basketball? Now that’s the biggest finesse of the decade!”
Social media exploded within minutes of the news. Some called it “the smartest investment in NBA Finals history,” while others begged ESPN to reconsider: “What’s a Finals without Stephen A. screaming about LeBron?”
As the NBA Finals heat up on the court, the loudest voice in sports will be courtside — in spirit only. And for $100 million, silence just became golden.
